Document bBG6yX1GdJOx9DR34yGKzojj3

mm ISTAIUSHED 1302 E. I. du Pont de Nemours &. Company INCORPORATED Wilmington, Delaware PLASTICS DEPARTMENT CC: G, F. Hickey 0. A. Sampson, J R. F. Ulak S . P. Barr-e---- D. R. Rea File D-13 April 6, 1973 TO: R. D. SWEENEY VICTORIA PLANT FROM: D. D. FELAK POLLY DRUMMOND #2 PROJECT 1295 - INCREASE ADIPIC ACID CAPACITY GASKET REPLACEMENT As you know, the availability of Blue African Asbestos (BAA) is fast becoming limited. BAA is currently specified as a spiral wound gasket filler in several plant pipe codes. To help obtain a suitable gasket replacement for P-1295, Design has acquired the service of G. F. Hickey, ESD Consultant, to provide assistance as needed. Initial conversations with Hickey (see attached memo Reyne to Felak dated 3/26/73) resulted in the desire for additional plant test gasket installations similar to those currently being done by Acids Mechanical. Since it would be advantageous from a maintenance replacement standpoint to act promptly, I would like your help in obtaining someone at the plant to assist with this test program. In addition to field installations, accelerated laboratory testing is expected to be desirable. In reference to the testing of G62 and G63 gaskets in cyane service, as mentioned on page 2 of the attached memo, I wish to search further before we initiate these tests. There is a possibility that testing along this line may have.already been done at Belle or Sabine River Works. DDF:rbw Attach. DUP 0827112 BETTER THINGS FOR BETTER LIVING . . . THROUGH CHEMISTRY DU 015161 ESTAIUSWCOI0O2 E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company INCORPORATED Wilmington, Delaware 19898 engineering department Mai'ch 29, 1973 CC: H. L. Bowman G. F. Hickey J. M. Schlotterback C. E. Myers RC 3'1-Design Process D D jryjyy --~-- POLYMER INTERMEDIATES DEPARTMENT POLLY DRUMMOND BLDG. 2 PROJECT 1295 - VICTORIA - INCREASE ADIPIC ACID CAPACITY, ETC. GASKET REPLACEMENT FOR BLUE AFRICAN ASBESTOS SPIRAL WOUND GASKETS A.s we have discussed, the availability of blue african asbestos gasket material with NBR binder has become almost nonexistent. This situation creates the need for us to find a suitable replacement for blue african asbestos spiral wound gaskets. During our discussion with G. F. Hickey (ESD gasket consultant), the following facts became apparent: 1. The blue african asbestos gasket material has been used in the past because, it...comes standard with NBR binder. . In addition, there are some indications that the blue african asbestos leaches far less_iron..into the process than the white asbestos. ' 2. Fire tests of sheet asbestos, sheet Teflon , spiral wound asbestos and spiral wound Teflon^ gaskets indicate that the spiral wound_,_asbestos..jg;asket is best for protection against a gasket failure during fire. The sheet asbestos is second best. The Teflon'-:r'products did not maintain a. satisfactory joint at flange temperatures much above 600F. 3. The only spiral wound asbestos gasket in mass production at this time is the whiteyasbestos filled gasket with S3R binder (G62, G63, etc.). There is a white asbestos sheet gasket madejwith NBR binder (G-40) 'which could be used to" make a spiraT'wound'gasket. However, these gaskets would be__a. special item, because the G-40 gasket material is compressed-asbestos and spiral wound asbestos gaskets are DUP 0827113 DU 015162 D. D. Felak March 29, 1973 Page 2 manufactured from felt asbestos. The main difference is that- the compressed asbestos comes in sheets and the felt comes on a roll. The latter, facilitates the winding of the spiral gasket. 4. There are a few other gasket systems that probably will be satisfactory in our process streams and provide fire protection. However, all of these gaskets will cost at least two or three times the cost of a G62 gasket. Based on this information-, we agreed to pursue a testing program at the plant to determine if the standard white asbestos spiral wound gasket with SBR binder (G62, G63, etc.) is a satisfactory replacement. " J This testing program should include long range testing of these gaskets in actual process lines and short range testing in an accelerated testing program. Based on the results of accelerated testing program, we can determine if any other gasket systems need to be evaluated. DESIGN DIVISION M. R. Reyne U Process Engineer MRRrbl DUP 0827114 DU 015163