Document bb37zdLgLXKzJBxO5XJ2evX1

M. .1. CAl'KiO PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT - 19 MEMORANDUM f. S- - 1981 MARCH 30 RE: JOHNS-MANVILLE'S MARINITE PRODUCTS With the exception of the critical header applications for both HDC and FDC ingot operations, Johns-Manville's (J.M.) asbestosfree Marinite-C board should replace the asbestos Molten Metal Marinite. By means of this letter we are advising all plants to replace asbestos Molten Metal Marinite (S/N 094-210-xxxx) with asbestos free Marinite-C (S/N 094-218-xxxx) by 1981 September 01. The applications for Marinite-C include molten metal transfer troughs, baffles, basins, dams and floating skimmers. J-M's asbestos-free Marinite-I is not recommended for molten aluminum operations. In certain applications, an acceptable alternate for Marinite-C is Pyrotek's asbestos-free Pyrotherm B-3 manufactured by Cape Boards of England. Any questions on the acceptance of this board should be directed to Mrs. Virginia Hammersmith at ATC or the writer. If all things are equal, we favor the use of J-M's domestically produced Marinite-C. An asbestos-free material for the critical HDC and FDC header applications has yet to be developed for commercial use. Until this product is available, we will continue to use asbestos HeaderGrade Molten Metal Marinite, (S/N 094-220-xxxx). To insure continued availability of the header grade material, we request your estimated usage through 1982 June 30. In this manner J-M can be advised of our needs and insure adequate supplies of the Sll-65 amosite fiber. Your cooperation in forwarding the estimated usage for Header Grade Molten Metal Marin'ite to my attention by 1981 April 30 will be appreciated. If there are any questions on this matter, please contact me directly APC 003092 DISTRIBUTION J.D. Boyce - ATC W.K. Benefield - Badin T.W. Lee - Davenport R.C. Miessler - Lafayette H.L. Gallop - Lebanon T.E. Klenske - Massena D.J. Fisher - Point Comfort J.R. Fry - Rockdale W.S. Zuber - Tennessee M.D. Wooden - Vancouver J. Heron - Vernon W.V. Pataki - Warrick D. Lutz - Warrick J.R. Pargman - Wenatchee C.J. Cox - 3 WPH A.J. Sartschev - 3 WPH -B APC 003093 VIRGINIA L. HAMMERSMITH CHEMICALS AND CERAMICS DIVISION ALCOA TECHNICAL CENTER - B MR. ELWIN L. ROOY PITTSBURGH - 23 1981 JUNE 15 RE: ASBESTOS REPLACEMENT - MOLTEN METAL MARINITE Alcoa 1 s ongoing policy for several years now has been "to actively^ fr, replace any asbestos containing material wherever possible", X we are all aware, the largest usage of such materials by Alcoa still been with asbestos containing molten metal marinite manu factured by John's Manville at their Billerica, Massachusetts, plant. For the past few years, regular grade asbestos marinite/y^SuC has been no more than 5% of their total business, with the pri/e type, header grade molten metal marinite. no more than 2% .^/Certainly, it is in both John's Manville's and (ftlcoa~s lnteresEyTS remove these from their product line and, more specifically, to replace the materials with an asbestos-free type prior to any government ed ict. ^ Comparable performance of their new Marinite C (a calcium silicate, fiberglass reinforced refractory board) to the regular grade molten metal marinite is certainly welcomed by some of our ingot operations. However, it h.as been brought to my attention that some JLo^ations are exceedingly slow to recognize implement the new material across a need to change gHickTy^-dnd the board. itT e-- Hr O OSHA maximum limitations presently are no more thaann 2 fibers/co airj * 'i. averaged over an eight hour period without being in violation. The OSHA (jction leve^ maximum of 0.1 fiber/cc, requires that we monitor the persons exposed for physical symptoms of lung damage and disease. In the case of our plants and imos-t exposures short term limit is a maximum of 10 fibers/cc^air over--s -Tl minute period. Most countries have reduced this limit much further. How we, as a corporation, can afford this slowness of jmplpmntaH()n fs**J * islionable. gf S-"^ ^ . r &xH. unter Many people fee' //R'l~C0~a ~i>afeTh, and Alcoa Research are "OverrrtT'pp concerned and, hencee,,''they have turrnneedd their eaarrss and eyes. L-_ \j$away from citing Violations "^iTcH ai the continuing use of asbestos materials when an alternative is available and to assume that o-^ small" infractions (drilling, sanding, air Jhiaaimnfmfleejr__removal, etc-j^^o">r should go unnoticed. Also, the notion is ^unfounded (that as long as we, as a corporation, are not actively maohinTivg the material, e the asbestos fibers are tied up in the matrix and pose no health hazard. Even transporting a small item of asbestos marinite can release surface fibers, especially in the yengths most often associated with future lung disease. Certainly, I and other workers do not appreciate the fact that we are aly exposed unknowingly due ALCOA APC 003094 However, your assistance and insight as to how we, as a corporation, can more swiftly attack the implementation of the suitable asbestos- free materials at all locations would certainly benefit the program. Certainly, tJi__sAxjjausne s s of curtailing the purchase of marinite effective September l^has not penetrated deep enough yet into operations and needs be addressed. VIRGINIA L. HAMMERSMITH VLH:dlw cc: ID, ATC-D T. L. Francis/File 8.140, Ceramic Engineers, ATC-B K. E. Buchovecky, ATC-B J. R. Stemler, ATC-C ATC-B R. E. Miller, ATC-B H. Sakoian, Tennessee South H. E. Ellis, Badin R. L. Parsons/K. P. Karsten, Warrick/ A. L. Piecka, Vernon J. A. Thompson , Wenatchee M. J. Caprio, Pittsburgh-19 H. G. Reavis, Pittsburgh-23 * O.JSJ * ^ TM 6 etP `C. cl r^ ^'*3 ? As -too ^ iawe e.4to;SPo)- ^.r-b-V be<?s>r<- "'n. -&!> APC 003095