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Firom no. C156-36. APFZNTIS A. THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL MEETING OF AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR ' TESTING MATERIALS, ATLANTIC CITY.'JUNE 29-JULY 3.1936, Opening Session and Marburg Lecture At the first session, held at 10:30 a.m. on June 30, 1936, the Secretary-Treasurer presented the Report of the Executive Committee, and the President, H.S.Vassar, delivered an address entitled: "The Testing of Non-Materials". Reprints of these are evailable. . H. P. Pamalee, Editor, Engineering and Mining Journal, read a paper on "Relationship of A. S.T.M. to Modern Developments in Chemical Engineering". This was a very general review dealing mainly with plastics which were dividedinto three groups: (1) cellu lose derivatives, (2) synthetic resins, and (3) rubber derivatives and rubber-like compounds. Mention was also made of carbon as a material of construction, of the new detergents, and of metals and alloys. In discussing the latter, particular mention was made of tellurium lead, for whioh there was claimed greater tenBile strength ani.more resistance to fatigue and corrosion then was found in other chemical leads. The paper is printed in full in the July Bulletin of A.S.T.M. . The Marburg Lecture was delivered by Dr. Arthur L. Day, Director, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, on Ju^y 1st. The subject was: "Developing American Glass". In outlining the history of the development of the glass industry in the United States, Dr. Day used many personal experiences to illustrate the various stages in this development. It was the wax of 1914-1916 which stimulated American research which led to most important advances. Particular mention was made of the develop ment of Fyrex glass and glass-making machinery. The pouring of the 200-inch mirror for the Mount Wilson Observatory was discussed. Several reels of motion pictures and numerous slides were 6hown. SCF-ALLF-00165 S-FORD-050 TP ' NO. UXpO --^fc. .. ' APPENDIX I. - I. Interviews _ A.S.T.y, Annual l!eetinn 1936. 1, Ur. Bradley Dewey, President, Dewey and Aloy Chemical Company, CaabfTdge, Mass. . I bad aa opportunity to talk to Mr. Dewey after the meeting of Committee &-1 on Cement. Hie company used to own the Multibeetos Co., whioh they recently sold to the RaybestoP-VftTihftttPT> group, end considerable work on asbestos has been done in tbeir laboratories, whioh, I was given to understand, are well equipped and have a staff of about 60, They have been specialising in colloidal phenomena with particular regard to dispersion and wetting. Mr. Dewey mentioned that they were doing some work for i Johns-Hanville, and it was his opinion that the subjeot of dust f I would soon be one of the most important problems in the asbestos . \j industry'. Ee thought that this dust was definitely harmful, the fi Russian asbestos being perhaps the worst in this respect. For the !/ present this information (or opinion) should be kept confidential. 'I A cordial invitation to visit their laboratories was extended. 2. Mr. H.W. Grelder. Direotor of Research, Philip Carey Manufacturing Co., Lookland, Ohio. . . ... . Mr. Greider gave a paper (with G.A. Fasold): "Comparison, of Abrasion Test Methods for embedding of granular mineral sur facing on Asphalt Roofing", at the session devoted to Bituminous Materials. After the session I had a short chat with him, during which he told me that their work oonslsted mainly of testing and investigations relative to the produots they manuf&oture. There- was pr&otioally no research on fibre. Mr. Greider stated that the reports which we issue to the Producers find their way to his- office via Mr, Spafford, 3. Mr. G.A, Albert. Phenolite Division,National; Vulcenized ' Fibre Co., Kenneth Bquaxe, Penn. Had a talk with this cap while '.halting for one of the subcommittee meetings to begin. Hie company uses considerable asbestos, but would like to use more beoause of its resistance to heat and deterioration in general. The eleotrical insulation properties would have to be improved, however. . They, would be glad to discuss this problem at any time, 4. Mr, J.B, Adams, Bakelite Corporation, Bound Brook, N.J. His company, Mr. Adams stated,. was very much interested in the use of asbestos as a filler. Ee suggested that a visit to their plant and an interview with Mr. tf.W. Zeinian would be mutually advantageous. NATIONAL PESE/.HCK COUNCIL P R 0 C E E 3 I IJ 0 S of the First Meeting of the ASSOCIATE CO^ITTEE Oli ASBESTOS RESEARCH Eeld in the Office of the Asbestos Cor poration, Thetford Mines, Quebec, Saturday, June 28, 1930, at 11.00 n.ra. Present: - Dr. E. M. Tory, Chairman, Capt. J. G. Ross. Mr. I. I. Bolton, Mr. A. C. Halferdahl, Mr. E. Larochelle, Mr. A. S. Johnson, Jr., Dr. G. S. TThitby and Mr. F, E. lathe, Secretary. . In opening the meeting the chairman read a brief report vrhich had been prepared of the confer ence on asbestos problems held in Thetford Mines on Jane 2, 1930. This appears in full in Appendix "A". _ The secretary stated that a letter had been received from Mr. Spafford expressing his recret that an important business engagement prevented him from being present. Capt. Ross stated that Mr. 0. 0. Smith w-'Es out of town and would lihev.'ise not be present, He had, however, invited Mr. E. Larochelle, Inspector of Mines. In view of the fact thet Mr. Larochelle was stationed at Thetford Mines it was agreed that the Motional Research Council should be asked to appoint him to the committee. The chairman stated that Ur. L. L. Bolton was representing Dr. Camsell since the latter was in 4. Europe. He expressed the hope that Tr. Ctnsell wcul! feel free at any time to send experts *rom his staff to meetings of the committee. f<r At the chairman's request the secretary out- / lined to the committee the action which had been taken since the previous meeting. The industry had been circularized in order to find out whether they were prepared to undertake oo-operative research and from the replies received it was evident that practically the whole industry would be prepared to co-operate with the national Research Council in this work. Capt. Ross had made available to the committee the reports of the Mellon Institute investigation, which had been financed by their company. This was being studied by Mr. A, C. Halferdahl. Through the courtesy of the Dominion Department of Mines a copy of Capt. Ross' monograph on asbestos had been secured and was being duplicated in part for study by the committee. This would shortly be published as a bulletin of the Dominion Department of Mines, The literature on i asbestos was being studied in detail by Mr. Halferdahl f and some one hundred and fifty patents and numerous Ubooks and pamphlets had been ordered. Capfc, Ross mentioned that there was another company which might be interested in the work of the committee, the Russell Manufacturing Company, St. Johns, Quebec. Asbestenos at St. Lambert was an independent company-engaged in asbestos manufacture, but Capt. Ross understood that they had no technical man whom they would wish to have placed on the committee. It was decided to ask the Russell Manufacturing Company to name a technical man as their representative or. i the committee. Capt. Ross pointed out that with the I exception of Asbestenos all the Canadian manufacturing / companies were branches of American firms. Suggested Research Problems 1. The Development of an Assay Method for Asbestos The secretary explained that he had visited the district about four years previous and discussed this problem ^ith the managers of several of the asbestos companies. Mot very much interest was taken in the development of an assay method, but he felt that this v;as probably due to a lack of appreciation of the great value of assay methods in controlling mining and milling operations. He was not, however. appendix "a" PH 0 C E E I 11! G S ' of a C02\TPERENCE 014 ASBESTOS PROBLEMS Held in Thetfora Hines, Quebec, Monday, June 2, 1930, at 2.00 p.m. Present: Capt, J. G. Boss, Mines Manager, Asbestos Corporation, Ltd., Thetford Mines, Chairman. Dr. H. II. Tory ) Representing the National Mr. F. E. Lathe ) Research Council. Hr. C. H. Shoemaker, Manager )Canadian Johns- ?Ir. Morrison end Hr. Van v/insen.) Many ill e Corpn., Research Engineers )Asbestos, Que. Ur. A. S. Johnson, Jr., Manager, Johnson's Company, Thetford Mine3, Que. Mr, E, Larochelle , Provincial Mine Inspector. In opening the meeting the chairmen stated that several cf the managers"who had been invited to attend were absent, due in part at least to other business engagement. One or tvro had not been heard from. The chairman explained that he had v.Titten the National Research Council ashing that officials confer with the managers of the asbestos companies regarding the advisability of having an investigation undertaken of the problems of the industry. Problems specifically mentioned were those of improved grading methods and the finding of new uses for short fibre. Dr, Tory explained that the usual procedure in helping an industry was for the initial expense to be borne by the National Research Council and for the support of the co-operating companies to be called for only when results of value had been obtained. Ke cited the magnesite investigation as one in vhich this method had been followed. Mr, Shoemaker stated that the Johns-Manville Coopany had been engaged in research work for many years. Their largest laboratory was in the United States, but the Canadian laboratory employed nine technical men as well as a number of assistants and were spending several thousand dollars per month. The company had certain manufacturing secrets vhich it felt it could not divulge, but it would neverthe less be glad to co-operate with the other companies as far as it reasonably could. It was agreed that the Johns-Manville Co. should notify the committee in case any research was proposed which the company already had under way, This would enable the com mittee to avoid duplicating the company's work. Mr. Johnson expressed his personal wish to co-operate in an investigation, which he believed would be of real value to the industry. The chairman explained that although the Asbestos Corooration was not a manufacturing company it had had considerable work done with a view to finding new uses for short asbestos fibre. It had for a tine supported an investigation at the Mellon Institute 8nd the reports of that investigation would be placed at the . disposal of the National Research Council, if an investigation was decided upon. Work had also been done with the Canada Gypsum and Alabastine Company, After considerable discussion it was unanimous ly agreed to ask the Rational Research Council to form an Associate Committee on Asbestos Research on which all the important producing companies should be represented, that research on behalf of the industry should be undertaken as soon as possible. It was suggested that if the Council formed such a committee the industry should be circularized in order to determine to what extent the co-operation of the var ious companies could be counted upon. The nee tin,-; adjourned at 4,00 p.m. <* /.*; Tivr, j*'*,1*.**. - * ; -- ^V- v*vy * > ^w T -- > ? ii 0 C E D I H S . of the Eighth lieeting ' of the as%gc:.-.2E co;.:.:i::je o:: asbestos Held in Otto*.vc, June ID, 1935, at 10.00 e tin* Present: Dr. 0, S, Whitby, ecting chairman Ur. C. S. Bell Ur. G. U. Boyd Hr. 3. A. Denoven > /v % 0.- Dufrosne Mr. A. C, Halferaahl Mr. E. Larochelle . Mr. L. C. Phero ' Cept. Jf. G. Ross Mr. C. K. Shoemaker Mr. H. A. Smith Mr. 0. C, Smith Mr. A. van Winsen Dr. A. W. G. Wilson Mr. D. V'olOChOT7 Mr. ?. E. Lathe, secretary. 1. Minutes The minutes of t he seventh meeting of the ccmnit too., were outlined by the chairmen end adopted 2. Serpentine and Plant Gro-rrth Ur. Shoemaker explained' that Dr. Brittain had sug gested to the industry that they should finance v?orl: et Mac donald Coxlego on applications of serponti.no to th- soil. The industry had given then no encouragement but ho understood that Dr. rsrittein had arranged to hove the v.-orl: done on e limited scale end that he ttouIq eventually report to them upon it. Ur. 'Voioch07? reported that ho had visited Uacdcr.'rlc College in this connection and had obtained some inforr.eticr. cr the ~ori: under v;ey, They had already found that the application of magnesium oxide end carbonate hod increased- the biological * r J. o. The chairman suggested that a few tests should be cerried cut to determine whether there was any encourago.-.cno for the application of Canadian asbestos in this field. 14. Other Business (a) Silicosis Dr. wilson called attention to the problem of silicosis in Onterio. This was a matter in ?/hich the Ontario Boerd of Health was deeply interested. He understood Dr. V7iiay of Kingston had written* to e number of people asking for sample of asbestos, presumably for test in connection with this prob lem. He felt that the problem was a naticnel ono and that the National He search Council should therefore be urged to form r. committee to investigate it. . He referred also to the excellent bibliography on silicosis issued by the Metropolitan life Insurance Company. Capt. Boss felt that silicosis was not a problem of grGat interest to tho asbestos industry since no cases of this disease had been observed in Thotford Hines. Hr. Kalfordehl reported having read an ertiolc cu lung fibrosis, apparently causod by dust in asbestos factories. This ep,:oarod to bo similar to silicosis. .... The sccrotory reported that this question had bo~n raised by Dr. IQ.ct2, Professor of Pathology and* Bacteriology at the University of Toronto, at the lest meeting cf tho Associate Committee on Tuberculosis. Dr. V.'odehouso, Deputy Minister of tho Department cf Pensions arm national Health, had stated that his department had tho matter under consideration and had suggested that no action be taken by the Council for r short time,since he believed that the matter would be satis factorily taken cere cf by parties co-operating with his department. The interest of Dr. JQotz in this problem was probably due in large part to the discovery made in his labora tory that silica in almost any form stimulated the growth cf tubercle bacilli. It was also a natter of concern that sili cosis was not one of the diseeses covered by the Workmen's Compensation Act in Ontario. As a result many of the companies faced suits for hcevy damages. __ Dr. Wilson reported that the head cf the oara:.:-.a ^.ane Hospital regarded silioe as a pciscn. / L-r. .V.'olochov'stated thet silicosis t/os being placed under conpensation laws in many parte of the United States. -- Dr. Wilson emphasized his point that this was really a national problem. He felt that the people in Ontario were not taking it up except from a provincial point of viev;. Hr. O.C. Smith stated that the Quebec Asbestos Producers Association had a committee charged with the duty cf keeping in touch with the situation in regerd tc silicosis. They were co-operating with the iietrcpolitan life InsuranceCompany end hed something of interest to the National Research Council if the latter should decide to investigate the problem. Two of the asbestos companies had covered their employees by a group life insurance policy with the Metropolitan. The question of literature on silicosis was discussed at some length. Dr. Wilson stated thet he neintuir.d a card index cf recent literature. It was also understood that the Quebec Asbostos Producors Association was doing the same. Hr. Ihofrcsne felt that this was a very contro versial question. It was impossible to differentiate between fibrosis and asbestosis. He also urged that the National Research Council keep in touch with tho situation and folt that the committee should bring the matter to the attention of the Council. CT The chairman suggested that the seoretery should be instructed to bring this matter to the attention of Dr. Lo with a view to securing information about the activities cf Dr. Wiley and others. It was elso suggested that he should consult with Dr. Wilson in the netter in view of the fact that the Hines Branch had accumulated considerable information cn the 'subject. It was moved by Dr. T7ilson, seconded by Hr. Dufresr.- end unanimously agreed to drew the attention of the National Besoareh Council to this problem and to suggest that it consider the edvisebility cf inquiring into the general question of industrial dust hazards. '* fb) Fillers Dr, Wilson stated that representatives of the Department of Hines would in the summer of 1935 visit manufac turers in verious parts of Canada ar.d lnquiro as to filler era D i yJ -r DOMINION OF CANADA FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL WWOf 1930-1931 OTTAWA, CANADA OPH tr THE COMMITTEE OF THE PRUT COUNCIL ON SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH Minister or Tub asd Commerce, Chairman Minister or Finance Minister or Mines Minister or Agriccltciu: Ministcr or Pensions a so National Health Minister or Labovb Minister or National Detente NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 1930-1931 President: H. M, Tonv, M,\,, DSc., LL.D., FX.S.C., FJ1.H.S., Ott. Ont. Secretary-Treaturer: S. P. Eagleson, Esq.. OtUw*. Ont. Member*.' Charles L. Blutok, Eso., President, Robert Simpson Company, Limited. Toronto. Ont. Charles Camsixl. B.Sc, LL.D., FJtS.C., Deputy Minister, Department of Mioes, Ottawa, Ont, A. L. Clark, B5c., Ph.D, FJlS.C., Hon. MXJ.C., Dun, Faculty of Applied Science, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont. Hvmc Cronvn, B-C, LLJ>, Genera] Manager, Huron and Erie Mortgage Corp, London, Ont. J. T. TosTtx, Esq, Vice-president, Trades and labor Congress ol Canada and President of tbe Montreal Trades and Labor Council, 747 Stuart Ave, Outremont, Ont. A. Faicon, B-5c,, DEc.. AM-\JEE.. A.MXJ.C., Dean, Ecole Polytechnique and Genera] Director for Technicsil Education in the Province of Quebec, 14S0 St. Denis Street, Montreal, Que. Sir Georce GAnNt.<r. B_A.Sc, LL.D., 71 St. Peter Street, Quebec, Que. J. H. Grisculc. BAgr., DScAgr., Drputy Minister, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. Ont. *H. M. MacKav, B.A, B-A.Sc.. M.Am.Soc.CX., Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science arid Professor of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Que. A. S. Mackenzie, Ph.D, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S.C., President, DalhousJe Universitv, Hslifa*. N.S. * J. C. McLennan, O.B.E, PIi.D., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S., Profeiror of Physicj ar.d Director of the Physics Laboratorv^l'niversity of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. IV, C. Mr*n.y. M.A, LL.D, P31.S.C, President, University ol Saslcatchewsn, . Saskatoon, Sash. ' J. IV. Skiplcv, B.A, A.M, ThD, F.CJ.C, FX.S.C., Professor of Chemistry, University ol Alberta. Edmonton, Alta. Jwian C. Smith, M.E, LL.D, M.E.T.C, Shawinigan Mater and Power Company, Montreal, Que. 0rd-0e*obri 15. W10. 9 4 FCVR Re'ie* of Activities c" X Inirndn.-iion The C*uncil . Appointments ir Division of C-rr *i Divj-ion of T-Division o! Ee~;-c. Building* and Fr: r -reSuoue.jry ef Ftra- - Financial rlatcsrc `:r Associate Comics: -- .tii*!ec fle-rar.-.-e Postgraduate Re-e.-t.. * International Act es Reports of Labor, tor Division of Biology arc Division of Cheri.-*-.-;.Division of Phviits Division of Researr Ir." Summary of Artjvities c A.*Associale Committee on Associate ComBSttr or. Associate Committee or. Associate Committee or. Associate Committee c: Aisoeiate Corarr.if.ee or. Associate Committee or. Associate Comctr.tre or. Associate Committee er Associate Committee t: Associate Corar.-t re <;. Assoeiale forarr. - re cAssociate Comet.tie? c: Associate Committee c; Associate Comr.r.tee o: Aisoeiate ComntrtLre o: Associate Committee o: Assoeiale Committee o: Associate Committee *: A*oei.ete Committee o: Associate Committee e.Associate Conur.r.tee i" Associate Commit ee . A**ori.-ite Comm.- re . Associate Cor.tr. fpetii Cot.ir.titter-- " Executive Co.-.-.m ts fpe.'ia) Committer . -. Conference er. It .at j Summary of Reparts Lsi!era: rjpptsr: ' Continuity of Ate The (tenet.-,tier. t Ptrl j-rI,r] ric P.-e ..-r High Ksenuenct : t --t Effect of Lon Te-reEffect uf Combine; i"i Spectroscopy of fe L rperI ru-rnpy ar.: At - F.mi-sion and At-t-rt .'ralle.'inp of Elf -Jr.Speciro-cupv in tr t t . </ u i \boha70hy vn nioss to delays incident in the installation of special pieces of equipment, work on many of these subjects did not get under way until relatively late in the year. . Asbestos D. W'oiocbow After several meetings with representatives of the Canadian producers, at which the technical problems of the industry were discussed, it was decided to undertake work wiih the object of. (a) standardizing the present method of testing asbestos grades, fb) developing new methods of testing such as will take into account all the various properties of the fibre which are of significance in manufacture, (c) developing new uses for asbestos, especially for the shorter fibred grades. Work was started in November, 1930. The producing mills and a num ber of asbestos manufacturing plants were first visited and data were secured on the results of testing the various grades of fibre in the Quebec Standard Testing Machine and also on Ro-lap screens. Work has also been done on the influence of drying, on testing, on the determination of the moisture and water-soluble content in asbestos, and on the absorption of water by asbestos. A new method of testing, based on the apparent density of the.fibre, is being studied. Washing tests have been made. Asbestos of foreign origin has also been examined for compara tive purposes. Some studies have been made on the properties of asbestos of various grades bonded with Portland cement and other binders, and this work is leading to the production of some new asbestos cement and moulded com positions which, it is hoped, will prove to be of commercial value. The activities of the Associate Committee on Asbestos are briefly described under that heading, beginning on page 34 of this report. Plastic Magnesia A. F. Goi, N. P. Put, C. TV. Davis Laboratory work on behalf of the magnesite companies has been directed towards improvement of the properties and methods of utilization of the plastic magnesia and the development of new uses. A study'was made of the effect of the factors of time and temperature in calcination subsequent to the carbonate decomposition. It was found that the physical properties of a plastic magnesia could be modified by heat treat ment to give the desired setting time; high water resistance and diminished linear change. It was possiblorto take advantage of these results in the com mercial production of plastic magnesia in spite of the limiting temperature below which Canadian magnesian rock must be calcined to avoid production of free lime. This was accomplished by close sizing of kiln feed, careful control of the burning period and improved technique in temperature measure ment aDd control. Further laboratory experimentation on the expansion and contraction of plastic magnesia cements, together with observations of existing installa tions, had indicated that climatic conditions in eastern Canada are a major factor in its ct reported as sr.:i: under the i: * v A large c-l: of develop::.; c: changes. 2' lz; of aggregate si:t safely stair." c: position ficcr; J. resiliency ai: tt: are now in nr let An invtsrigat satisfactory rag: mechanical y::?e: scale. . Other ir.::r.e.{ tion trials ir. :he floor and waii i.itto be equal t: `.lie- establishment :f : templated. Efforts art :e: power and fir;-:re building proc.rts been obtained With the r::t 1931, some acc.-.lor. preliminary quriita droxide of mar.esi made of the c::d.' solutions of re.:::', factory way c:::l. Weed set:': si: represent in th* ::: head of the lakt; a separated at these t tons and in the y;:: thirds of these s:r:-i or no monetary -;! National Restir;; Of the vnr'.r :s manufacture of : ! . been dcvc-lc-pni :r. ; U ASSOCIATE COMMITTEES paralyzed birds were given different treatments, such as ultra-violet light, special <liel or the widely advertised iodine vermicide, but all were ineffective. The disease is surmised to be due to a neurotrophic virus. (Investigation under the direction oj Dr. H. TV. Hill.) Associate Committee on Asbestos Co-operating organizations: Canadian Asbestos Producers and Manufacturers Dominion Department of Mines Quebec Bureau of Mines A preliminary study of the asbestos industry was made in 1926 by the technical staff of the National Research Council, at the suggestion of the Associate Committee on Physics and Engineering Physics, whose members had enumerated a Urge number of problems. In the report covering this preliminary survey it was recommended that work be done on certain problems of the industry, but as the asbestos producers did not at that time feel any special need of government assistance, the Council decided to take no further action. In the spring of 1930, however, the asbestos producers after consultation among themselves made a formal request for assistance to the National Research Council. The President accordingly arranged a conference with the producers, which was held at Theiford Mines on June 2. 1930. The situation was reviewed at that meeting, and it was recommended that the National Research Council form a committee to make a systematic study of the problems of the industry and to undertake such laboratory investigations as might appear to be warranted. Until a few years ago Canada was in the happy position of being the world's chief producer of asbestos, which was readily sold at a good profit. Prices during the war rose to a high level and remained high for some time subsequently, but this proved an incentive to other countries to utilize their asbestos reserves. Important advances took place in the Union of South Africa. Rhodesia, Russia, and the slate of .Arizona. "With increasing quanti ties of asbestos being offered, the price fell rapidly, this movement being greatly-accentuated bv the severe depression which began in 1929 and has continued to date. It was a particularly severe blow to Arizona and Canada where labor costs are high and tlie deposits in general of a comparatively low grade. In South Africa, P.hodesia and Russia, however, the grade of rock is high and labor costs STe low. These countries consequently made important advances, chiefly at the expense of Canada, In 191S Canada produced about S07c of the world's tonnage of asbestos and 717c of its dollar vnlue. whereas in 1D29 the tonnage had fallen to 71% and its value to 53%. The relative position of Canada was still further weakened in 1930, although it is to be noted that in the latter year the dollar value of asbestos products manufactured in Canada reached a new high record. 4 Realizing the urgency of the situation, the National Research Council immediately appointed nn asbestos committee with representatives of the asbestos producers and manufacturers and the Dominion and Quebec rie- j j j s j | ! j J j j j j ; j T : ' : . ' } j : parlments c: Thetford Mints cr. One of the chi that there is r.: ea for gold, silver, cc; deposits. Cht~i:a it occurs; its vzlu, properties. Tr.e cdifferer.t lengths v common use eras:of standard dhaer.: out, however, the : in compacting the : it after shipneat. >. purchaser finds it asbestos to erasure their destinalira. committee acccrair an investigatica of Another prrhle fibre, especially the covered by the tail for the short a:re properties make it utilization of caly application of ashes Problems ia r.\ agreed that these ; portant improvta-.e At the secrad 1931. the President IVolochow, wh: h: cement, had beer, s the National F.tse: at his task. Test; asbestos, and Isrir In connect'.:a formed under the :. Uniform Classiarat agreed that this o mittee on Asbe-stoorder that each :::: The commute-, brought into Am.^r secure a comparlsc-: gested that this re merrial manufu.".: lltra-violet light, were ineffective. ill) in 1D2G by the Jggestion of the whose members rt covering this lone on certain lot at that time decided to take 'ter consultation 0 the National conference with . i. 10:50. The lended that the ematic study of y investigations an of being the t a good profit, a for some time to utilize their Union of South creasing quantilovement being n 192D and has na and Canada comparatively r, the grade of r-equenlly made 1 1913 Canada 19c of its dollar ; value to o39f. 10:10, although bestos products search Council .tatives cf the nd Quebec de- ASSOCIATE 10MMI7ULS partments of mines. The first .meeting-of'this committee was held in Thetford Mines on June S, 1930. One of the chief technical problems of the industry arises from the fact that there is no easy assay or analytical method for asbestos, such as exists for gold, silver, copper, or any other single element obtainable from mineral deposits. Chemically, asbestos is almost identical with the rock in which it occurs; its value depends chiefly of. *fls peculiar physical structure nnd properties. The case is still further complicated by the fact tbat fibres of different lengths vary greatly in value. The asbestos grading method in common use consists in screening under controlled conditions on screens of standard dimensions. No matter how carefully this operation is carried out, however, the results vary. Compressing asbestos for shipment results in compacting the material to such an extent that the buyer, upon screening it after shipment, obtains a lower test than did the seller. As a result the purchaser finds it necessary to "sweeten" his shipmentswith long fibre asbestos to ensure that they will be up to the desired grade upon reaching their destination. Some dependable tests are urgently required, and the committee accordingly agreed to undertake as one of their first problems, an investigation of possible methods of standardization of tests. Another problem is the utilization of asbestos of intermediate and short fibre, especially the latter, of which large additional quantities could be re covered by the mills if there were a demand for this grade. Certain uses for the short fibre asbestos have already been developed where its unique properties make it of value, but most of these applications involve the utilization of only small tonnages. What is required is the large scale application of asbestos in important industries. Problems in milling were also discussed by the committee, but it was agreed that these should be left to the industry for the present, since im portant improvements in milling practice have already been made. At the second meeting of the committee held in Ottawa on March 4. 1031. the President of the National Research Council reported that Mr. D. Wolochow, who had had extensive experience in scientific research on cement, had been secured to work under the direction of Dr. G. S. Whitby in the National Research Laboratories and he had already been some months at his task. Tests were being made on standardization and new uses of asbestos, and leads being obtained might prove of commercial importance. In connection with standardization it was reported that there had been formed under the auspices of the Quebec Bureau of Mines a Committee on Uniform Classification and Grading of Asbestos Mines Products. It wa agreed that this committee should be represented on the Associate Com* mittee on Asbestos and that an exchange of minutes should be made i*i order that each committee might be fully informed of the other's work. The committee considered the situation in regard to asbestos being brought into America from Russia. It was agreed that it was essential to secure a comparison of asbestos from Russia and Canada, and it was sug gested that ibis be done by having authoritative tests carried out in com mercial manufacturing plants under the supervision of the staff of the 56 . ASSOCIATE COMMITTEES National Research Council. It was decided to make arrangements for thtse tests as soon as possible. . Associate Committee on Biophysics As previously reported a conference on biophysics was held in Toronto in February, 1930, at which there was a general discussion of important problems awaiting investigation in the field of radiology, especially in re lation to the treatment of disease. At this conference a subcommittee was appointed to go over the whole list of problems suggested, consider the advisability of research, and report back to the main committee. A meeting of this subcommittee was held in Toronto on October 16, 1930. In the absence of Dr. Tory, chairman, Dr. Boyle, Director of the Division of Physics in the National Research Laboratories, presided. In view of the fact that in the therapeutical use of radiology, which is rapidly increasing, there is little precise knowledge as. to the proper wave lengths to use or the optimum time and intensity of treatment, it was agreed that standardization in dosage is of fundamental importance. After a full discussion the committee recommended to the National Research Council that provision be made as soon as possible in the National Research Laboratories for the standardization of measurements of radium, X-rays, ultra-violet and other light, high frequency radiation, and heat radiation. Steps to that end are now being taken. It was recognized tb&t this meeting of the subcommittee was only a preliminary discussion, and that a very large field exists for research in biophysical problems. It is anticipated that provision will be made for this in due course, although at present the work which can be undertaken is seriously limited by the inadequacy of the funds available. . While not carried out under the committee, it is of interest to note that work on high frequency radiation in relation to chemical reactions and selective heating of animal tissues is under wav by Dr. J. C. McLennan in the Physical Laboratory of the University of Toronto. The progress of this investigation to date is summarized on page 114 of this report. ' Associate Committee of Chemists Two meetings of the committee have been held during the year ur.ctr review, both in Ottawa, on January 4 and May 29, 1930. Dr. G. S. Whitby, Director of the Division of Chemistry in the National Research Laboratories, presided at both these meetings, having succeeded to the chairmanship previously held since the organization of the committee by Dr. R F. Ruttan, now deceased. i __ At the earlier meeting Dr. Tory briefly reviewed the work of the National Research Council arid outlined the plans for the National Research Laboratories. The committee discussed in particular the arrangements being made for Researches in pure and industrial chemistry. The question of the production of artificial fertilizers in Canada vss considered at some length. Messrs. B. L. Emslie and R. J. Walley presented l I j ; ] j : J . : j , I ; * papers dealing with v results of recent work the need of fertilizers, a need for a compreh sented a discussion or. Mr. TV. A. P. Sc: of the Stevens consis tests carried out with viscosity coefficients, in Canada because ( weather. Dr. Bruce Macal: in the study of vitan portance to human bExtensive application of poultry. The chairman out the National Research assistance of the cor problems that should 1 At the May meet! question of chemical scale, and available sc length, especially in r Weed Control. For d Mr. Lathe gave t importance of the pro" 250,000 tons per year classes of screenings vwas regarded by the National Research La formation as possible The chairman ga National Research La' wool, and laundry pr committee regarding-! in some detail by the Mr. S. J. Cook, the question of import work is directed towar and the possible dev< to know in detail pre domestic production. ; to the problem unde: committee as of imp effort should be made detailed information under favorable condit S Studies and '. McGill 'til, (E.xational R*. rnd Arch ha, Winni of Toronttd.. To1. Univtrtherine St. >*', NaOnt. 315 Bloor II Univcr- riment of ional Deft. Ltd., Research >J. OtuTnin of . Montedicire. its and oror.to, culture, io ReU. Tonent of ng and a. and aspital COMMITTEE MI. '.MZKS 1ST Geo}ge Hilton. V.S.......................................... ...... Director General, Department of A;-vaiture. Ottawa. One. * O. Klou. M.D., C.M...................................... . ,D-;.- -.r.ent of Pathology and Bacteriology, i.'r. ersitv of Toronto. Toronto, Ont. Rev, Father Leopold, D.S.A.......................... .......Dlr"*.-r Oka Agricultural Institute, La i Que. Joti M. Roiell, M.D....................................... .......Chi'.-: Department of Bacteriology. Oka A;-cyltural Institute. La Trappe. Que. C. D. McGilvrav. M.D.D., D.V.Sc.............. .. .. Pr..v :u! Ontario Veterinary College. i <, . -.-h. Ont. A. Savage. B.S.A., D.V.M., M.R.C.V.S...... ...... P.-.A^-r of Animal Pathology. Manitoba A;-.'u.;tural College. Winnipeg. Man. _ P. R. Talbot. V.S.. D.V.M............................. ..rT'Pr-i v:j! Veterinarian, Department of Agri- i'. -u*t. Edmonton. Alta. i E. A. Watson, V.5........................................... .... Cl.-.r-' Ethologist, Department of Agriculture, Ont. F. E. Lathe. M.Sc., Secretary........................ Dim-r.-r. Division of Research Information, N*-vital Research Council. Ottaua. Ont. ii Associate Committee uz. Apple Slacks i J. H. Gritdale. B.Agr., D.Sc.,A.. Chairman .... V-.;.;-- Minister, Department of Agriculture, Ova vj. Ont. H. M. Tory. M.A.. D.Sc.. LL.D., F.R.S.C., _ , F.R.H.S.......... ..................... ................................Prr..-i*!it. National Research Council. (Ex- \ i aft.-.-ul Ottawa. Ont. W. S. Blair, Esq...................................................... Su;cr:i(sndent. Experimental Farm, Kent s' :V. N.S. A. S. Mackenzie, Ph.D.. D.C.L.. LL.D., . F.R.S.C......................................... .. ..................Pre-i.vtit. Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S. G. E. McIntosh, Esq.............................................. Cv:::n;ioner. Fruit Branch. Department of iiji A;:-;-jiture. Ottaua, Ont. W. A. Middleton, Esq.... ........................................?rr-n.nal Horticulturist. Department of NVor.il Resources, Halifax. N.S. i F. E. Lathe, M.Sc., Secretary............ ...... ....... Dirmr/r. Division of Research Information, NV.-ital Research Council. Ottawa. Ont. Associate Committee on Asbesvj Research H. M.Tory. M.A.. D.Sc.. LL.D . F.R.S.C.. . F.R.H.S., Chairman................................... . .Pr-n.-.-.:t. National Research Council, Ottawa, Om. R. W. Boyle. B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.. F.R.S.C ......Di.-n:'.-: Div ision ol Physics. National Re- *r.-r. Council Ottawa, Ont. Chas. Camsetl, B.Sc.. LL.D.. F.R.5.C................. De;.'.- Minister. Depanmer.t of Mines. O'.ti'sa. Ont. A. C. Halferdahl. M.A.Sc................................... Rt>r.-n Investigator, National Research C\Ottawa. Or.t. A. S. Johnson. Jr., Esq. .......................... Director. Johnson's Company-, T:.-r-..T'J Mines. Oue. Eugene Larochelle. B.A.. C.E.......................' . . Ins-^rrvr of Mints. Province of Quebec, . T .tu Mines. Que. I- G. Ross. Esq. . . . ......................... Mi:.r Unager, Asbestos Corporation. Ltd.. Tt.nt .-rd Mines. Que. C. H. Shoemaker, Esq. ............... ' . . Cank io.-: Johns-Manville Corporation. As- br-.t f. `^ue. O. C. Smith. Esq.. . . .... Mr.^-m. Bell Asbestos Mines. Incorporated. Tr.ev.-rd Mines. Que. E. E. SpafTord. Esq.................. Que ve- ksbestos Corporation, East Brough- G. S. Whitby. M.Sc.. Ph.D., A.R.C.Sc., F.R.S.C.Dirrmf. Division of Chemistry. National Rewrvh Council. Ottawa. Ont. F. E. Lathe. M.Sc.. Secretary ;. Dirrr.n Division of Research Information. N,,- .val Research Council. Ottawa. Ont. i t > . .. i 4 f : Jui .7. v-':? _:; i itrrm nmasa otto nigut4> of the ii4th noting Ottawa, 14 August, 1936. 4. ?nmtj Major-Oaneral 1.0.L. MoBaughton, President; Dr. Prank Allan! Dr. B*I Billow; Swan l.L^ Clark! Dean 7M.0* Johneoa; Dr. A.8. Maokenalej Data O.J. Mao ken* le; Kr. Ton Mooret Dr. Julian C. Ctalthi Abbe 1. Taahoa; Mr. Latha, Diraotor of tha Division of Baaaaroh Info mation; Mr. 8.F. Xaglasoo, Ssoretary. Shi Counoll aat at 0 a at. 1. the alnutaa of th 118th seating, vhloh Miautaa had previously boaa distributed, wore taken aa read tad approved. t. ' The Secretary aubaltted a atateaant of tho Financial reoelpta and expendlturaa of the Counoll for.the - tew- porlod 1 April to SI July, 1934. ant fftrhlMt TI 8. The Proaldont reportod that the Seleotlon Belaotloa Oooaltteo had not on the preooding day to oonaldor Comities a vaoanoy of Assistant Bosearoh Biologist in tho * Dlvlalon of Biology and Agriculture, but had deforrod final doolalon until further lnfonation bed boon aeourod and oonaldored at tho next meeting of the oomlttoe. . d. the President reported that an additional Zatiaatca voW of $10,000 had been provided vin tho aupplaaon- tarr aatlaatea. the dlatribution of this in detail to the Mveral aorvloaa la flvon on page 6 of Inhibit is Ba ateted that ao far aa oon be oatlaotod at proaont, aftor providing for praaent oocnaltBents, there would be available for allocation by Counoll apercrinntaly $15,000 txvm. Special' Fund rovanuo , wxieh it la ostlmtod will bo reoalved during toe current year, but that all granta authorised by Counoll would have to b provided fro*, the Apodal Fczj amir. :ir. Aeaooiato Coflolttoo on Asbostoi mo ninth mooting of tbo Assooiato Coaaittoo on Asbostos was hold in Montroal, Juno S3, 1W6, with tho eoretary of tho ooraaitteo In tho ohair* Thlrtoon persona woro In attendance* Tho ooaaittoo dlsoussod tho problem of opon and orudy flbros and the lnoonolusivo results In teats made upon than. It was agroed that an outline for the oonduot of future spinning teats and for a sorlos of testa on the laboratory carding meohlne should be drawn up and circulated for orltlolam. An effort will be Bade to eooure Information fros Ingland re tarding manufacturing preotioes in that oountry The national Rosearoh Counoll staff reported the results of prollalnary spinning teats on washed asbestos fibre* Washing reaoTod a large amount of duat and produoed a fibre which could be spun without henry losses, tho not result being similar to that with unwaahod fibre* Zt was considered worth while to oarry out preliminary tosts on the Impregnation of washed and unwasnod.fibro*, me ooamlttoe discussed the quostion of magnotlo iron in aebeatoe, one of oonsidorablo importance when aibostos la to bo used for olootrioal insulating purpot es. In studying this quostion tho national Bosoaroh Counoll Is oooporatlng with the Aaerloan Sooiety for Testing Materials. V m* sffeot of various milling aachinos on fibre rat reported by the laboratory staff, which has been studying this question by mlorotoopie methods* Various changes In oooBerolal praotloe were suggestod. Additional work Is to be done on the funda mental charaotor of Canadian and foreign flbros, with ohamloal analyses of woshod and unwashed asbestos* The cdrloe of geologists and petrologists is to be sought in mlneralogloal studies* Zt was roported that certain Oezn&n investi gators had exporlmanted with Canadian fibro and had dlsoovured that oertaln corrosive effect* were essoolatod with sulphur oontont* This lod to e study of the sulphur problem, in whloh it was lndloatod that sulphur might bs introduced from the oool used in the drying operation, mis was regarded as important in rlov of the poeilbl* influence on both corrosive effect and b>t. slsotrlool conductivity. This atudy will be eantinuod, at veil as otter experlaauts an tte oorroaloa of metals in eontaot vith asbestos fibre. Tte oommlttse diaoussed at length the possibility of utlllalag tailings from tha asbestos mills* preliminary laboratory axparlmants bad Indicated that a con siderable Quantity of abort flbrs could be raoovertd by mat c methods. It tu agreed that tha laboratory should tost tailings from saoh of tbs mills and report results to ths oparotors. Othar utilisation possibilities dlseuseod lnoludod the produotlon of active sllloa and magnesium salts, the application of tailings to soils deficient in magnesia, tho production of fillers and ths manufaeturo of cheap, fire-proof mall board. Tte chairman requested criticism by the committee of the vork bolng done la the laboratories of tho Rational fe search Council, and edvloo aa to hoc tho usefulness of the vork could ba lnereaeed. Be suggested that closer con tact befees the researoh staff and industry be prorlded. Mr. C.B ffbn--bar, general manager of tha Johns MttivIIIo Company, thought ths vork oould bs made more practical In aharaoter If a atearlag ooamlttee of representatives of tha industry and tha Council vara appointed to superrlse the vork. After some discussion It vas doddod to recommend suoh aotlon to the President. Mio has since approved of it and asked tho producers I to same their reproecntatlree. The praetloe of sanding a ropresontctlTe from the laboratories to eaeh mooting of the Quebeo Asbestos Producers Association will be continued. t < The prohlea or silicosis and asbestos!e eras briefly discussed. The question Is one In whioh tho producers oro toe only interested, end It vae agreod to keep It on the agenda for future moetl&ge. Arrangements were made to eeoure a laboratory assistant for a eariod of three months at |75 por month, the salary to be paid by the Qneboo Asbestos Prodneors Association. AngUJt 11, lWd. 7.X.Laths, Ssoretary, Aseoolate Committee on Asbostos 0 i ti- leeool&te Cot^Sfam-nn Tuberculosis D-l Tba seventh a* a tine of the associate Committee on Tuberoulosla was bald In Ottawa on June 17, 1936, with 16 parsons in attendance. Or. Oaksr Clots was obairsan of tbo Mating* ' Or. iu. Watson prtsantsd a report oovering tubaroulosls rasaarob oarriod out by tba Health of Animals Branoh of the Dominion Department of Agrioulture. Tbo work hod ohiefly to do with tubaroulin usod for tasting oattla under the department's tubaroulosls aradioation plan* Dr* Hilton reported that tba department was now tasting about one million oattla par year. Dr* B.O* Perguscn, Bead of the Qu'^ppellt Indian Health Unit in Saskatchewan, outlined to the oocaaittee bis work on the oontrol of tubaroulosls amongst Indian ohildran attending boarding obools and on the- veooination of Indian ohildran with B.C.O. (Baoillm Oalmstta-Ouarin), whlob was undertaken on the re ocamandat ion of tbo oosmittao* Tubaroulosls amongst the Indians has been radioally reduced by tba isolation of aotive oases, espeolally those among tba sohcol ohildran* Taooination with B.O.O. has not yet prograssad far enough to do Mrs than confirm the lnsoouity of this vaoolns. Tbs oonmlttas oonsiiars, howsTsr, that Dr. Isrguson has a unique opportunity to carry out a soiantifio test of tbs value of B.C.O*, slnoe (a] tba Indian raoe is unusually susceptible to tubaroulosls, (b) tba situation in tba Qu'AppellaZadlan Health Unit is suoh that Dr. Pargusoa oan make bis vaooinated and oontrol groups exactly alike, and (o) ha is able to eovure post-mortem examinations snd thus definitely detezmlne the osusa of death. 1 period of some years will be required to de termine what dagree of realrtanoe is ooaierred by B.C.O. Tubaroulosls rasaarob at Quean** University, not now supported financially by tba oommittee, wsi reported on by Ur* O.S. Bead* Vo work is st present being dona on B.C.O., but an effort is being made to obeok, by means of tba oomplemant fixation test, tubaroulia tests vblob bare bean oarrled out on Indian children in fiaakatobewan and similar testa on vaoolneted oattla at tba University of Alberta. Positive results ware obtained on the Sara from 11 Indian ohildran snd nagmtlvs results on the sera from 40 vsooinstad oattlo, in both oases olosoly obaoking tba results of tuberculin teitlr*. _ _ Isrgw-soala experiment* on the Tsoolnatlon of osttlo with 1.0.0. at the ^Diversity of Alberta were reported by Dean A. Bankln as ^aotloally oomplete. He bad found that B.C.O. waa entirely uboououb and that it oonfarrod a substantial degree of resistance but not oomplete immunity to tuberoulosls in oattla. Thera remained for ooapletlen histologioal studies of vaoolnated animal a which bad been exposed to tuberouloeia and subsequently slaughtered, end alxo obumtions on one call group of vsooin&tad *<*!* in a . tubtroulou* bird. S*en BanJtln it alao aaiMTorlng to allnlnata tubarouloala froa two tubiroulou* hard* by_lh# Taooination with 2,0.0. of til taiaalt Introduoad into tbaat hard*. Good propria la balnc aada but it la atlll uncertain wbatbor tubarouloaia can b oomplataly alininatad in tbit way. fir; JJL. Saudouln, of tbt Qaltaralty of Mon trail, re- portad upon the amoolutlon of oblldran with B.C.O., an arparlaatA which baa now boon uadtr way for about ttn yeara. Baoant raiulta btTt fully ocnflarmad tba praTloua indioationa, (a) that B.0.0. vat barmlaia to children, (b) that raoolaetion raduoad (antral mortality, (o) that waoolution rtduotd Morbidity (itata of ill atatl, aad (d) that it raduotd to a aajor extant tba zxuaber of death* froa tubarouloiia aaongit oblldran expo*ad to opan oaaaa of tha dlaaaaa. Baoantly Dr. Saudouln'i work baa baan laporoTad by a tpaoial study of wtooinatad end unreoolnatad oblldran in tha mm faaillaa. and by ezprtttlng tha raaulta of mooiaatien on tha baala of ohlld yaara of Ufa. Vhlla waxy aubatantial raaulta hawa alraady baan obtaiaad, la lina with raaolta in franoa and alaawhara, thara la atlll not full ipeaaant aa to tha dagree of raalatanoa oonfarrtd by 2.0,0. and It la tbarafora important'that tba work ba oontlnuad with, If posalbla, inn oloaar oontrol, until it has patted daflnltaly bayond tha axparliaantal stage. EaYioolnation and tubaroulin tatting of reoointted oblldran ara alao regarded aa naoaasary. Tba praparatlon of all 2.0.0. uaad in Cauda la oarrlad out at tha Unlvaralty of Montreal by Dr. 1. frapplar, who la following aathoda daralopad at tha Paataur Xnstltuta In franco. Sr. frappler daaorib*4 hla aathoda to tba ooaalttaa. aeabere of vhioh aarpraaaad thaotelvat aa fully aatlaflad with tba praeautiona bain* takan. . . . Sr. Hots raportad on tubarouloals raiearoh oarrlad out at tba Unlwaralty of Toronto without flaanoial aaalvtanoo froa tha ooaalttaa. In attaapt waa being nada to dsrelop oultural aathoda to aupplant tatti on guiwa plg for primary icolationc. Thli work wei tuooaaaful and It m propoatd to apply is Toronto hoapltala tba aatboda dereloped. Dr. I, MaoL. Barrii, of tbo Department of ?eniiozu and Jktiooal Health, outlined tha Spehlinger nathod of treating tubarouloiia. Tba oomlttaa did not propoae to undertake any work on this aatbod cf traataant. Tha question of alllooelt and eibaetoBla, preTioualy dlaouaaad by tha ooaalttaa In relation to tubarouloiia. waa rewltwtd by Sr Hot*, who raportad that ba waa oo-oparating with tba Banting Inft 1 tut a in tbalr lcraatlgatlona, but that ha waa not yat aatlaflad that thia Important qua at ion waa rao airing tha attention which Its eerloueuia juttlfled. Vo definite aotlon va* ta_fcan by tba ooaalttaa in thla oattar. . D-6 Zn Tin of tba Ocuaell'i axportaad pinion tbat tba work of tli laaoolate Ooaalttaa on fobarouloil* rtiould not ba artandad into an fialda tad ttit tUpi should ba takan to ooaplata tba NNuelMi undar 1*7 aa aoon at poaalblt, tba oca*,nlttaa oonaldarad at lanftb proposal* for futura *ork. Thllt rsoo<alilac tba moassltf for tba atrlotait aooaonr in tba ua* of fund*, tba ooulttaa nararthalaaa aaaalaoualr dtoidad to rtoco* aand to 6ounoll tbs oonplatlon of tba projaot uadtr *07 87 Da*n Rankin and tba continuation of thoaa of Dr*, farfuton, Boudouln and frapplsr. Ipplloatlons for flanolal asaltUnoa vtra plaoad bafora tba axaoutlra of tba l*aoolata Ooaalttaa on Jubtrouloaia at a naatlng on lugust 18 and It m raoooaaadad tbat tba foil0*104 grants ba oadt: Dr. la tmiV<W Dr. B.O. JParguaon Dr. l. frappitr Dr. JJL. Baudouln Utm " d balanoa 1866 6666 Tba Oounoil baa alraadp approprlatad $6000 fcr tba work of thli oooBlttaa, and It It ra^uaatad tbat a furtbar appropriation of 04180 ba aeda in ordar to prorlda In full for tbaaa raooonandad granta. August 15, 1986.. V 1. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS . of the First Meeting of the STEERING SUBC01XITTEE, ASSOCIATE COMMITTEE ON ASBESTOS Held in Montreal, September 12, 1936, Present: Dr. G. S. Whitby, chairman Capt. J. G. 'Ross Mr. C, H. Shoemaker . Mr. D. Wolochow, secretary. 1. Organization Offioers were elected as indicated above. 2. General Captain Ross stated that the condition of the market had undergone e radical change so that there was now a very heavy demand for almost all grades of fibre. To meet this situation an effort must be made to reduoe the number of grades and to improve processes so as to increase production. In the last few years the quality of the asbestos has in generel been improved, so that many grades contained twice the value they had five years ego. Further improvement in the treatment of rock and of fibre was however essential to meet present and prospective demands. It was admitted that the present methods end equipment were as a rule deleterious in their effects on fibre, but the more urgent problem was the development of a really efficient method of opening fibre which has already been separated from the rook. The difficulty lay in the faot that fibre spicules became entangled in the mass and were therefore difficult to reaoh. The present methods used throughout the industry were therefore too harsh in their ection. Greatest returns would be obtained from improvements in this field. / 2. Hr, Shoemaker confirmed the above statementsi He felt that the best interests of the industry would be served by the development and maintenance of a balanced demand for all grades, as suoh a condition would yield the maximum returns over a long period.. Experience had shown definitely that the relative demand for the various grades fluctuates, end potential merkets for all grades should be explored. At the present time he thought the market for textile grades needed expansion, though the particular grade needing stimulation may vary from one produoer to enother. Experience had elso shown that there had been demands for asbestos which beoame vigorous for a time, without warning, and then as suddenly became weak and even disappeared. A more intimate knowledge of uses and their trends by the produoers would have in many lnstanoes been of ooncrete benefit. He felt that uses fot asbestos whioh are reflected in the purchase of asbestos products by a large number of small users (for example, domestic users) have a stabilizing effect not possessed by uses which are reflected only in purchases by large manufeoturers. lr. Shoemaker therefore suggested that a thorough ( survey be made of the industrial applications of all grades of asbestos fibre. This survey should be oonduoted with a long range point of view, for it was not to be taken for granted that the demand wauld always be heavy. In this . survey all competing commodities should be noted and their nature studied with the object of determining what were thenacimml outlets for eaoh of these and for asbestos. The results of suoh a survey oould very well serve as e sound basis for future research. It would elso provide the industry with knowledge in advanoe as to likely directions in which new uses for asbestos could be developed if and when the present demand falls off. It was important not merely to ascertain the past and present uses of esbestos, but to disclose trends, showing the uses whioh are tending to grow end those which are tending to diminish. From the point of view of future the most important uses are presumably those oonnected with staple and growing industries, espeoially when asbestos, beceuse of its speolel qualities, is naturally in e strong position in comparison with competitive materials. As en aid to the conduct of the suggested survey it was recommended that a bibliography on asbestos, as complete as possible end kept up to dote, should be prepared. 3. 3. Programme for Asbestos Research Additional disoussion established that the following projects should be undertaken: (1) Survey of Uses of Asbestos with a long range view to the future of the Canadian Asbestos Industry. This survey should include a study of market trends, past, present,and, if possible, future, and of the applications to which asbestos is being put, so as to aid in the production of the best grade for each particular purpose. The nature of all competing commodities should be ascertained with a view of determining the natural outlets of these and of asbestos. Also, the survey should investigate what changes or improvements in present grades would stimulate demand in present uses and/or create new uses, (2) Development of Uses for Asbestos. Because demand for the various grades fluctuates, new uses for all grades would be of benefit. At the present time additional outlets for floats and for textile grades would dearly be advantageous... With reaped to the former, the use of asbestos as a grease-filler should be thoroughly canvassed, as this nas a big potential outlett and lubrica tion specialty manufacturers should be visited. It was stated that spioules may be more abrasive than magnetite. At the same time inquiries should be made regarding the use of asbestos in oil-filtration, and as a filtering medium in general. With respeot to textiles, the development of substantial new uses for asbestos fibres is desirable, end the utility of asbestos cloth in the home and in industry should be considered. Further, the use of spinning fibre for.eleotrical insulation should be studied with the objeot of increasing this use by reduction of magnetio iron content and other means. In connection with the carding of fibre, a study of the orudiness of the drops might be illuminating, (3} Hilling of Asbestos Fibre. Processes for' opening asbestos fibre, first as distinct from rook-milling, should be investigated for the purpose of designing an opener or openers which would completely and so efficiently fluff the fibre out, that./ 1. no sharp spicules or pencils, would remain in the fibre mass and yet this mass would not be demaged in any way but would emerge in the optimum conation for the intended use. r* 4. In this connection a study of fibre co-position will have to be made as required, end a test or tests for measuring fibre texture is neoessary. All available means, such as oioroscopic find cfneralogicel examination, physical and chemical analyses sre to be employed In this study. i. It was considered that, especially if an improved opening procedure oan be incorporated into the mill flow sheet, probably the logioal thing would be for the producers to supply fully opened fibre and make unnecessary, so fer es Oenadian fibre Is conoerned, the use of openers b7 the users. The practice of opening by the user not only involves tho use of naohines whioh are apparently drastic in their action, but, in cases where Canadian fibre is used in combination with Bhodesian and/or Russian, may involve the subjection of Canadian fibre to a longer period of opening treatment than is necessary. It was observed that the ideal milling procedure, so far as opening is concerned, would be one in which, after sepereting the fibre from the rock, the spicules are "shaken" out and opened separately', the already-opened fibre suffering no further milling. (4) Other Projects With the understanding that, while first place in the research programme should be given to the projeots elready outlined and to matters whioh might logically arise from them, the following questions should be given attention as and when opportunity offers, (a) Hilling and utilization of tailings. Outlets for tailings or products derived therefrom are desirable, and investigations towards that end should be undertaken. The possibility of developing a market should, however, be the first consideration in deoiding on the scope of the work to be done. This will apply to such aspects of this problem as the wet grinding of serpentine, the recovery of free fibre, the concentration of netellio constituents (e.g. iron) and the settling of dust. (b) Clean fibre. A derision as to what further work should be uono on the production of clean .fibre depends on consideration of the question as to (a) what are the uses of asbestos for whioh cleen fibre would be truly advantageous, end (b) what ere 5. the U9es for which clean fibre is unnecessary or even dis advantageous. (It was stated that the washing of fibre in the winter would be a costly operation.) (c) Bemoval of magnetic iron. This was considered a twofold problem; the removal of magnetic iron from various grades to improve their utility, espeoielly in electricel insulating products, end 'the concentration of the magnetic iron end associated minerals into a product whioh may have possibilities in metallurgy. (d) Dust settling. Improvement in dust precipitation, over that being accomplished at present, is a worthwhile objective, but the product obtained must be marketable to offset the cost of the prooess to be used. The questions to be considered ere: Gan present methods be made more efficient? Could reoovery be improved by merely damping the dust' slightly and thus evoiding the use of large quantities of water and subsequent drying? Whatever changes may be made should be suoh as would not involve an increase in baok pressure on the fans, as the cost of eir is already one of the main items in milling operations. (e) Substitute for asbestine. It was stated that asbestine is made by grinding large flake talc, with subsequent ecid treatment to improve oolour. It was suggested that in considering the possibility of making a similar produot, the first step should be to visit the talo producers in Southern Vermont. These producers have lately, thanks to work of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, doubled t'he value of their products. (f) Corrosion due to asbestos. Present study to be followed up. 4. Co-operation of the Quebec Asbestos Producers* Association. The full oo-operation of the members of the Q.A.P.A. will be required in order to oarry out the suggested pro gramme most speedily and efficiently.' In addition, the Association is to be approached for such financial assistenoe as will be required in connection with the survey and the increased laboratory personnel which will be required to co ordinate properly all aspeots of the researoh programme. Is AT TONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS of the -- Second Meeting of the STEERING SUBCOMMITTEE, ASSOCIATE COMMITTEE ON ASEESTOS. Held in Montreal, April 24, 1937, Present: Dr, G,S. Whitby, chairmen Capt, J,G, Ross }.5r. C.H. Shoemaker Mr, D. Wolochow, secretary 1. Proceedings The proceedings of the first meeting were approved, 2, Survey of the Asbestos Kanufacturing Industry of the U.S.A. The secretary presented a progress report on a pre liminary survey of the asbestos manufacturing Industry of the United States of America. See Appendix "A", In the'discussion of this report the following points were brought outj (1) The percentage recovery of crude fibre, on the basis of rock mined has been very uniform during the past ten years or m:re, and with the increased tonnege of'rock mined, the production of crudes'has increased proportionately , The present inability of the mines to fully meet the demand is therefore due neither to lower recovery,- nor to smaller production, but to the increased demand. There was no likelihood, however, that prices would go to the high levels they had reached on previous occasions duo to fectors which were to a oertain extent beyond control# The mines would do their utmost to prevent a recurrence of such conditions# As to the possibility of increasing the percentage of crude recovered it was stated that attempts which had already been made to do this showed that though it may b6 possible to increase recovery, it could not bo done economically. (2) \7ith rogerd to uniformity and texture, it was ccr.sierred irpertant to determine definitely if possible, Tibet the- vari able characteristics ere which should be controlled er.d kept uniform, end what proportion of the users preferred thoroughly opened fibre, ___ . (3) Inasmuch as the asbestos was not considered to be re sponsible for "bloom" formation, it tbs not socn hot? the re sponsibility rested on tho Producors. The largor manufacturers had their own research and tosting laboratories, and in col laboration with the concnt manufacturers were tho logical people to investigate this problem# Was there more "bloom" in some districts, then in others, due to differences in cement end/or water? It tbs decided to got into closer touch with the asbestoscement industry end to ascertain whether e cooperative research project on the problem of "bloom" could be initiated. It was also recommended that the rosoarch staff should make it its business to secure as much dotailod information on tho manufacture of asbcstos-Portland cement products and as full eh understanding as possible of the problems of such manufacture. It was thought thet it was likely to bo desirable to install in tho Laboratories some small-scale equipment for the production and tost ire of such materials. As to the development of siding material, it was felt ' that this had already been achieved, some new factories for the sole purpose of making such materials having been recently con structed, (4) It was requested that more information be obtained regarding the use of asbestos as a groase filler as this was con sidered to be on important potential use. On tho other hand, it was not though that tho sprayir^ of asbestos wes important as yet, but it was suggested that this development bo wctched. (5) Capt, Boss was of the opinion that some Canadian fibre was being used in filtration, but he did not think thet this wes an important use, r.s tho quantities involved wore small, Mr, shoemaker felt, however, that "the sale of c suitable material ' would bo a good business because, though the tonnage was small, prices were high, end c.s far as he knew, the bulk of the asbestos used in fiItrati on was imported, (6) It was decided that a comprehensive study of the heat resistance of asbestos bo undertaken, foreign fibres to be in cluded. ' In studying csbestos textiles of varying cotton content, r'5 c'ffcrt should be made to obtain yarns made from the seme lot of fibre, and Mr, Shoemaker suggested thet his ccnpcny might bo a Die to cooperate on this. (7) Y.'ith respect to tho utilization of t :lings 1t was ' thought that tho rest leg ienk U0 would t: It cr.d ccnstructl cn} but practically no head-.::, y heel boor, made so fr. , though several attempts heC boon made to induce engineers tc ry this toot oriel. The chairman thought that theTshortcr grades of fibre should bo valuablo in asphalt pavemont, ond he pointed 'out that if it would over be considered advisable to hevs tests cade, the coop ration of the Imperial Oil Company who had recently instcllod a road-testing machine, might possibly be secured. The secretary was instructed to present his report to the Quebec Asbestos Producers' Association, 3, Statistics in tho Asbestos Industry The secretary suggested that it might bo cdvisa'blo to make a detailed study of production ond sales statistics, past ond present, with a view of discovering if there hove beon any definite trends, and detecting new developments in tho uses of asbestos. Tho producer representatives though that from a practical viewpoint such a study would be of -doubtful value, 4, Blasting Wire In Fibre The secretary reported that at c. recent meeting of tho Q.A.P.A, it h^d-bccn statod that tho removal of small pieces of copper blasting^ especially from spinning fibre, was a serious problem, Capt, Ross ond Mr, Shoemaker statod that this problem hod received considerable attention in the past, hnd the coojercticn of tho explosives manufacturers had been enlisted. But no solution had been found as yet, end removal of the wire was being done manually at considerable cost. Any suggestion which would result in a saving would therefore be welcome. 5, The Problem of Backfilling 'This matter had elso been brought up recently at a Q.A.P.A, meeting. ^ Capt. Ross stated that the method used in backfilling depends entirely on the system of mining, end that therefore the one could not be considered apart from the other. In tho system" used at the King Mine no consolidation of tailings was required, -a feet it was undesirable. There was thus no urgent problem, at least not before the system of mining had been selected aefinitely. ' Tbs meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. to reconvene at 2:30 p.ne t Hu uji mimTii w i r i im ' 4. 6. Microscopic Studies of Asbestos Fibre A, large number of photoaicrogephs togother with ex planatory notes prepared by Mr, A. van 771ns on v?cro presented to the neoting, '` Tho notorial was found vory'interesting and it was decided that the studios bo continued. 7. Associate Comalttee Mooting It was suggested that a nccting bo callod early in June , if tho asbostes survey could be conplctcd by that tine. Dr. VThitby suggostod that the nesting bo hold in Ottawa. Tho mooting adjoumod at 4 p.nu fe n ssra Survey of the Asbestos Manufacturing Industry of tho United States Ir.trocuctl on -- In accordance with the recommendation mede at the ninth meeting of the Associate Committee on Asbestos, and approved by the Quebec Asbestos Producers' Association, a survey of the asbestos manufacturing industry has been undertaken. To date, about forty men, associated with the industry in various capacities heve been interviewed. In most instances, the men interviewed appeared eager to cooperate end spoke freely about their problems; e few cid not Been to appreciate, at firstf that the sole purpose of the interchange of ideas was to discover whet problems there were in connection with the use of asbestos and thus possibly to promote the use of asbestos end its products; only one perty refused to discuss any aspect of the applications for which he was using asbestos* General conditions As is no doubt known to all,-a spirit of optimism was found to prevail in the asbostos industry. The majority of users of asbestos fibre were, in general, well pleased with the various grades of material being supplied by tho Canadian mills; they felt that quality had improved and they therefore had no serious complaints to make. Among the users of crude fibro there was some concern regarding the future availability of this grado of fibre, it being tho general impression that tho supply was falling behind the demand and that a sorious shortago was in the offing. Leek of Uniformity Nevertheless, some very definite statements, relative to the present shortcomings of the various grades being produced, were mede by some men in the industry. Tho first complaint is that milled fibre lacked uniformity in practically ell grades. Not only did the standard grades vary from mill to mill, but what was more serious, in thet it caused more difficulties in manufacturing processes, was the variation, from shipment to shipment, of the same grade from any cr* mill. In this connection, one user, interested primarily in spinning fibre, lodged a strong protest: Spinning fibres were not properly prepared and contained too much nonspinnable material. Kls firm was working on some new developments which should create outlets for considerable additional tonnages of spinning fibre, but had received very little cooperation from the Producers whom A-2 he tod opproachod. His study, to sold, which included a vis to tho Canadian nines end mills, hed convince:'. TVrt rr os n c nc- .rly o sufficient degree of control exorcised in ttc production of fibre, and thet the industry hod net devoted as much effort to research in the production and utilisation of asbestos as they should havo, end. could profitably have done. The lock of uniformity was in jrt escribed by sore, to the use of the Queboc Standard Testing Machine, which, they felt, gavo only meagro information r.bout tho Quality end the con dition of the asbestos. Thus, in spinning fibre, it vras stDted that there was no definitely established relation between tho Q.S. Test and the oarding value of a fibre, or the yield which it would give in the textile process. The siggestion was cede in ' one quarter thet spinning fibres be evaluated by c carding test, supplemented by an opening tost. Furthor, in short fibres, very frequently it was the pan fraction which was most important in determining tho suitability of a fibre, and yet tho Q.S. test gave no informotion about this materiel except its amount. Insufficient Preporation Tho socond -complaint is that, in general, asbestos fibre is not sufficiently free from fibre'poncils, bundles or . ' j spicules, duo to insufficient preparation. In tho last analysis, j asbestos is purchased end used., osido from other considerations, ; because of its fibrous nature, Tho fibro bundles thus should be i milled, opened up or teased out. into o truly fibrous condition, before the asbestos can be utilized to tho fullest advantoge. This is true not only of tho spinning fibres, in which perhaps tho greatest variations in texture havo been found, but practically of ell grades. In the courso of the survey casos were found in which even floats were being given additional milling in order to bring them to the optimum condition for the purpose for which they were ; being used. All users of asbestos may not have the sane Ideas as j to vti at is the most desiroblc fibre or condition of fibre for the . various epplicat ions, but cn the whole it seems that well opened J fibre,' or fibre opened up as fully as possible with the minimum of j disintegration, would be the answer to the asbostos products J manufacturers' prayers. The producers cf esbestos fibre may A never be able to offer a set of standard grades, so finished ' ; that they would meet completely the requirements of ell the users, but tho present situation could be materially improved by the ' production of asbestos which is in tho maximum fibrous condition, free- from pencils or spicules. The problem is mainly one of design cf the proper type of.machine or machines which will enable the producers tc achieve this goal, Tho users oft sbestos are very much interested in the possibilities of improvements in this direction, and a number of them enquired regarding tho most suitcblo typos of opening equip ment for the particular grades of fibre which thoy were using end if such equipment was available. As information on this subject A-3. `could not bo supplied, thoy v.erc referred to'the- producer from when they were purchasing their rocuire-me Ashes tos-Ccr.snt Products The greatest activity was feund in the c.bestos-ccncnt products industry, where new plants were being contemplated and constructed, and the capacity cf some of the present plants was being increased. This expansion is of courso due to the rovival of the building industry, and it was the opinion cf some that it was long overdue. It was clainod that the American industry had lagged behind the developments in Zhurope, where a much greater variety of csbcstcs-ccmcnt products was finding wide public acceptance. Arguing cn those lines, some people foresaw a possible .shortege of the grades of fibre being used in those products (presumably grades in group 4 and 5 of the standard classification). Othors, on the contrary, were apprehonsivo lost the rapid incrcr.so in plant ccpecity should result in overproduction, especially in the event of a recession in building aotivity. Whatever tho future may bring with regard to volume of production, thcro was a definite technical problem with which ' practically ell asbostos-oemont shingle mnnufocturcrs were faced, due to the phenomenon of "bloom" formation. It was particularly . serious in tho case cf colored products in which the cppocrancc of "bloom" end the consequent staining or discoloration, was tho more noticocblc end unsightly. And as the trend was towards moro end lighter and brighter color in thoso products, the problem was indeed cn urgent ono. In tho opinion of some of the manufacturers, it was almost the duty of tho asbestos producers to assist in the solution of this problem. Information obtained through tho Portland Cement Association indicated that a number of cement manufacturers wore keenly interested in the asbestos-cement Industry bccauso cf its considerable consumption of their product, end their cooperation could possibly bo obtainc-d, The problem should be attacked, it wes suggested, in a fully cooperative nmnrcr by all the- parties concerned as the complete elimination of "bloom" would benefit tho entire industry. On tho other hand, the production end sale of materials cn which "bloom" appears, would eventually do much harm tc the industry. Turning to another aspect of this industry one manu facturer was not certain that tho current popularity of r.ebestc-scemcnt shingles would net wane, for it was his experience that there wore modes and oven fads in building materials as well as in other phases of human endeavor. These shingles, ho contended, were usually sold on the argument that they do net noed any pro tective covering t-- preserve their original appearance. Would time corrcbcrcte this ergumont, prove it false? He- knew cf a number of Jebs which were losing their freshness. This was due tc the high ' water absrrption and tho tendency, beceuse of surface characteristics, . to retain .'.ust and scot. There wcs thus room irr improvement. Further, asbestos-cement products hevo not beer. popular frr siding I er.d if n sotisfcctory product for this purpose wore- developed, the nirkot for r.sbcsics would bo increased considerably. Several manufacturers complained that Canadian fibre wcs too Cork for tho lighter colored csbcstos-concnt products, and inquired about the possibility of overcoming this difficulty. Asbestos Coraonts It was very interesting to loom, while visiting a lab oratory which tested prcctically ell tho various types of insulat ing materials on the market, that of tho numerous samples of asbestos cements which have be on submitted for test, only en occasional ono contained csbestos fibre cs produced by the mills. This matter was follcvjcd up, and it has boon fonnd that tho addition of other materials such as clay, ground limestone and slate and factory waste, was a common practice. Those materials lowered the covering capacity and tho insulating valuo of tho asbestos cemont. This practico, in tho opinion of some, was roally an ebuso es far as tho asbestos industry is conoornod, for it had a very repressing effect on tho sale of asbostos cements. It was also statod that the Producers could put an end to this undesirable situation if they took concerted action, end tho results would be very bcnoficicl to the industry. Asbostos Fillers Short asbostos fibre and floats aro being used in stoadily increasing amounts as fillers for synthetic resins and other molding compounds. Tho chief property of asbestos which limits its wider uso in this application is its high specific gravity as comparedto organic fillers such as wood flour. Aside frontfhis, tho moro common complaints against asbestos as a filler for molded articles aro: 1. Gritty, causing trouble in maohining end drilling. Z, Conteins sticks or bundles of undivided fibre which ' show up on tho surfaco of moldings. 3. Excessive magnetic material, causing defective electrical insulation. It was stated that it was not oertain that the lower electrical properties arc caused by the pros once of the magnetic perticles, but improvement in the electricel properties is desired. Regarding the use of asbostos ee a filler in lubricating greases, the only information which seoms to be available is that tho fibre must be free from grit. Sprayed Asbestos Insulotion Tbc spraying c-f asbestos insulation, methods and machines for which have recently boon patented by sevorcl parties, is developing si only. V7hilc it socr.s to be the general opinion that Canadian fibre is not sultablo for this purpose, it has also been stated that relatively long fibro works well, but is .too costly, Vr'ostc nowspaper, shreddod in a 6uitablo manner. is being sprayed, but of course it is not fireproof insulation. Tory Cleon Fibre As a result of sene of the conversations with non in the industry, the impression was gained that if very clean fibro, free from all non-fibrous contamination, were mado available, it is very probable that a market could bo developed for it. In ' addition to a high degree of cleanliness, the othox requirements would be uniformity, thorough openness and good homogeneity. As on example of the possiblo applications whore such fibre could be used to advantage, there may bo citod the use of asbestos as a filtering modium. Asbestos Textiles ` As tho manufacture of woven brake lining aocounts for such a largo proportion of the asbestos textiles made, it would be valuablo to know the future trond of tho brake lining industry. But a safe forecast cannot be made. A suggestion was heard that if the producers are desirous of maintaining, if not increasing, the consumption of spinning fibres, they should cnoourago tho memufeoturo of woven, as opposed to molded, brake lining. Just how thoy could do this was not made clear, bur/ls c thought. Canadian fibre is not considered suitable for the manufacture of asbestos textiles for electrical insulation, due to its magnetic iron content. Improvement in the cloctxical properties, presumably by the elimination of this impurity, is Thorofpre desired. Because of the apparont soarcity of long fibre of good Gloctrical properties, at least one party havo expressed their readiness to undertake the processing of Canadian fibre as soon as a comaercial method for removing tho magnetic iron becomes cvciloblc'. The Heat Resistance of Asbestos Those was found a considerable intcrost in what might be termed the heat resistance of asbestos. This includes the tempera ture of dehydration, the rate of dehydration at different teapera. tuxes end the effocts of theso factors on the properties of ' j asbestos fibro and products made with asbestos. Praotically all j grades of fibre are involved, for interest ir. this subject was found cxiong the users of short cs wall as long fibre. Apparently the dr.tc available in the litcrcturo arc not considered to bo sufficiently comprehensive cr reliable to answer definitely ell the questions 'which have fren tine to tine arisen in the minds of the users cf asbestos. The results of a thorough investigation of tho properties of asbestos ns re laic cl to tonpcrcturo and viator content would therefore bo welcomed enthusiastically by the industry. Class Fibro Glass fibre was first developed commercially in Gorncny during tho War, to take tho place of asbestos, the supply of which had been cut off by blockades. It was not until about five years ago, however, that mass production methods wero initiated by the Coming Class Works and tho Owens-Illinois Glass Company, who hevc been carrying on research on tho subject Jointly, Uses for the textile end insulating materials made from glass fibre are being actively investigated, end the possibility of substituting thoso materials for asbestos materials is being studied. It has been stated by Boverol peoplo that gless fibre jstill too brittle for many purposes and that the wetting properties are unsatisfactory. Because of this and the relatively high cost of glass fibre materials, it is forecast by somo that glass fibre will not bo able to successfully replace asbostos fibre in most applications. Nevertheless, scrao inroads will probably bo made, and tho challenge can bo bost met by continued improvements in the quality of asbestos fibre, Fundcancntal studies of tho properties and characteristics of tho two materials may be also of valuo in this oonnootion. Uses of Asbestos It is common knowledge among thoso in tho industry, that asbestos has found its w?.y into very meny products and compositions. At tho same tiro, the larger units of tho industry maintain lab oratories whose function it is, in part, to dovclop now products containing asbestos and to extend the use of products already being marketed, by constant improvement of quality and design. There were found a number of applications wherein asbestos was used only to a limited extent, mainly beccuso it was considered too costly end the advantages obtained through its use did not warrant the added cost which it entails. The problem is therefore primarily economic in nature. It is generally conccdod, thcroforo, that to find new uses for asbestos is a difficult task, but at the same time the prevalent feeling seemed to bo that the use of asbestos will grow. To expedite this growth, several suggestions have boon gleencd from the verious interviews: 1. Asbestos, the basic materiel, should be publicized by the producers ecting jointly, es through the . ft.A.P.A., for czenpic. 2. Asbestos products, ospocially thoso in which asbestos is ono of tho major constituents, should bo publicized by the producors and manufacturers, acting co-opcrativcly. In sano casos tho producors of ono or more of the other constituents might bo willing to participate in such an effort, (o.g, Portland Cement Association, in the ease of asbestos-cement shinglos, etc.) 3. Maintain a technical service for the purpose of ' supplying roliablc information to presont and pros pective users of esbestos, also assist in the solution of sono of tho manufacturers' problems. This would supplement what is alroady being dono by some of tho manufacturers relative to thoir own products. 4. Obtain the co-oporation of seme of tho other industries in discovering ways in'which asbestos could be made to . serve thoso industries. This was suggested . moro or less as a follow-up for suggestion 1. Utilization of By-products Several men stated that, in thoir opinion, rcsoarch should bo ooncontratod on finding usos for mill tailings or by products obtained therefrom. They considcrod this to be tho most legitimate field for tho producors to investigate, and suggested that though this may involve considorablo effort, it would oventually pay good dividends. . D. WolcchcW AUTHOR: Investigation: Asbestos PROGRESS report orDivision chemistry Pcricd Covered June, 1937 date.. July-6-,.. 1937 -- Typed July 26, 1537 topicsi i, Teete for Bell Asbestos Hines Ltd. 2. Asbestos for Filtration Purposes. 3. Survey of AebeBtos Industry. 4. A.S.T.i:. Meeting and exhibit. ii'l 1. Tests for.Asbestos Hines Ltd. Three samples of mill fibre were received from the Bell Asbestos Hines Ltd., with the request that they be wet screened and tested for dye adsorption. The tests have been made ana the results reported. The dye tests were made by Hr. van V/insen. 2. A-sbestos for Filtration Purposes The tests which were to have been made in Toronto have been postponed owing to the absence of one of the wine chemists. These teats will be made in the near future. A visit was made to the plant of the American Leitz Filter Corporation at Fatereon, II. J,~where they have tried to process Canadian fibre but have so far been unsuccessful. A samplepprepared here was tried in the filtration of wine and was found to work satisfactorily. Hr. Hunziker, the superintendent was away, but his assistant was very well pleased with our fibre and said that they would be very much interested in the process of preparation. He intimated that new developments promised an expansion of the use of asbeBtos for filtration purposes. v 3. Survey of Asbestos Industry _ (1) VThile in Hew York, I got in touch with Hr. Roff, of Uhittaker, Clark and Daniels, who are the sales agents for Asbestos Corporation Limited. Unfortunately, Hr. Roff was just leaving for out of town and we had no tine to discuss matters fully. He did ssy that he had one very definite problem put up to him by a customer who uses asbestos in paint ana he promised to take me to interview this party next time I was in the vicinity. (2) A visit was made to the Aiatcrg Trading Corporation where I interviewed Hr. Seidenbond, who is in charge cf ore imports, including asbestos fibre, and Hr. Gertzenberg, vice-president. They told me that very little Russian asbestos was coming into- the United States both because the home demand was increasing anc because Europe was a COPY FOR THE PRESIDENT - They are very eager to co-operate and to exchange information with the Canadian producers at they feel that such action will be r.utuqlly advyr.tegeouF . Incidentally, the Soviet mines have very ruch the 9ameproblern a* have the Canadian mines with reepect to the utilization of tailings. (3) Through a contact made at one of the A.S.T.lf. meetings it was learned that the Bell Telephone Research laboratories had been measuring the electrical conductivity (or resistance) of various filres. 2 had an interview with Hr. E. J. kurphy who haB been doing this work, and at his request a sample of crude fibre,has been sent him for conductivity measurements. * W (4) Through the kindness of Hr. Hanes, chairman of the A.S.T.L'. Subcommittee on AEbeBtos Textiles,'I was able to interview Hr. R. E. Car purchasing agent for the General Electric Company, et Schenectady, New York. Kr. Carter said that his company was not having any difficulties with short asbestos fibre, but that it was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain asbestos roving, yarn and tape for electrical insulation, and that prices of these materials were advancing. On the other hand, the manufacturers of gloss textiles have been able to improve quality and lower prices so that their products would soon compete effectively with asbestos products.. . * (5) I had a short chat with Dr. S'feider of the Carey Company. Ke told me that he hadreceived the copy of the report on the survey of the asbestos industry which had been sent to Mr. Spafford of. the Quebec Asbestos Corporation and was very much interested in the various items it covered. It seems that he received the report at a very opportune time, for he waB able to use it effectively in persuading the officials of his company to take certain steps toward the improvement of some of their operating processes, as suggested in the report, especially with respect to the opening up of fibre pencils present in mill fibre. They were finding the calcination test quite useful, but the conditions under which the open fibres were disintegrated after calcination, had to be very carefully standardized 4. A.S.T.1T. Meeting and Exhibit The samples of crude and spinning fibre, also rock showing veir. formation, gathered from the Producers were sent to New York to form cart of the exhibit of Committee D-1.3 on Textiles. A case, illustrating the steps involved in the fabrication of asbestos brake bands, loaned by Jir. larochelle of the Quebec Bureau of Hines, was also included. The use of asbestos textiles in electrical insulation was shown by a collection of 9uch applications, prepared by the General Electric Ccmpar. Several microphotographs of asbestos fibre taken in our Laboratory were also included in the display. There was no meeting of the asbestos subcommittee and the only meetings attended were the one of the special subcommittee cf the "f.'ater Test" for csment durability, for winch see separate report, the formal opening session of the annual meeting, and the round table discussion on "accuracy" and "precision". This cuscussion was opened with the three following papers: (U Discussion Dealing with the Fundamental Aspects of the Subject, ty ft* A. Shewhart, Bell Telephone Laboratories, who defined "accuracy" ss having to do with differences between two Linde of measurement, ' and "precision" as referring to reproducibility of seme cne Lind of measurement. He emphasized"that it was important to Lnor? what to expect in future testa. (2) Discussion Relating to the Field of Chemical Analysis, by G. . F. Lund ell of the U. S. National Bureau of Standards, who stated that "accuracy" was a measure of the correctness of an analysis, and "precision" its reproducibility. The former could be established by compering results from several procedures and by the analysis of a known mixture! ithe latter was a function of the sample, the method and the operator. (3) Discussion Relating to the Field of Mechanical Testing, by H. F. Moore, of the University of Illinois, who defined "accuracy" as the closeness to truth, "preoision" as reproducibility, and "sensitivit} a3 the amount causing a certain difference in the measurement. Professor Sail, chairman of Com D-13 on textiles, in the discusaic which followed, defined "accuracy" ae agreement with absolute truth or accepted standards, and "precision" as conformance of measurements among themselves. Kis definition for "sensitivity" was the same as that giver, above. Dr. Churchill, of the Aluminum Corporation stressed the importance of the practicol expects of all testing methods, and stated that very often the test results were much more "accurate" and "precise" tyan the operating processes in the plant. J. L. Author: D WolOChOW NVCSTISATIONl ASbSt03 PROGRESS REPORT Division op .Chemistry Period Covered DATE. *1TM**3jLA? 51 Typed 1 April, 1538. 1. Examination of Asbestos Rock from Hole River, Manitoba 2. Processing of Fibre sent in by "Asbestile", Belgium *. paper on tbe Utilization of Asbestos 4. q. a. P. A. Meeting 1. Asbestos Rock From Hole River. Manitoba Several wet and dry milling tests were cade on a sample of what was considered to be asbestos rock. A separate report, No. C 315-37S, has been submitted (7 February, 1?3B). 2. Processing of Fibre sent in bv ^Asbestile11. Belgium Four bags (gross weight 600 lbs.) of C & G-4 asbestos fibre were received from the above manufacturers of asbestos- portland oement products for processing to improve the colour by removing material which darkens the products made with this fibre. The same amount of Yimy fibre was to have been sent . in also, but ,,Asbestilen stated that they had none of this fibre on hand. . Arrangements were made with the Ore Dressing Laboratory to have this L bre milled and wet screened- Hilling was in a pebble mill (4 x 6) with 300 lbs. of pebbles for each bag (about 150 lbs.) of fibre and with as much water as the mill, which has open trunions, would hold. After milling for 30 minutes, the fibre was ran over a Hummer screen with 60 mesh cloth, with constant spray of water. The fibre was collected in by filters, dried and put through a fiberizer to break up any lumps. Recovery of fibre was 64?,. The wash water containing the minus 60 mesh material was collected in a large tank, the solid material allowed to settle and, after running off the supernatant water, was put through a filter press, dried, and then broken up in a hemmer mill with quarter inch discharge. The two products, - fibre and fines will be re turned to Belgium. 3 Paper on the Utilization of Asbestos The paper to be presented to the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy has been prepared and draft copies have been sent to&ll members of the Associate Committee" for comments and criticisms. A popular abstract has been written and copy sent to the Secretary of the Institute. ' Copy for the president .9 -*r lr 4. P. A.-V-eetins REPORT NO. C 3^2"3/. The meeting of the Association held on 2b February, was attended. -- A brief progress report, prepared by Mr. van Winsen, was read to the meeting and fully discussed. In connection with the evaluation of fibre, it was the opinion of the meeting that no further tests, such as spinning tests, be made until a sure method of testing fibre for degree of openness was available. The meeting again requested that the work on the standardization of testing technique be carried on vigorously. said The chairman of the Technical Committee/that the so-called ncake-opeaerM did not perform the function for which it was de signed. A aachine is being developed in our laboratory. The problem of rock drying was again discuesed and it was decided that the Technical Committee send out a questionnaire to each member company, and report at the next meeting. With regard to the approval of the drawings and speci fications for the Testing aachine, it was reported that these would be ready for the next meeting. ' . The invitation which had been received from Committee D-1J, A.-S.T.M. to participate in the exhibit was conveyed to the meeting and it was decided that an exhibit similar to the one' displayed at Hew York in 1?57 should be sent to Washington. Four of the producers volunteered to supply 25 lbs. of orude fibre.- in hand specimens for distribution. ' . The chairman of the Q.A.P.A. (Capt. Ross) stated that there was now a definite overproduction of shorts and new uses were urgently required. . . The Inspector of nines (Mr. Larochelie) announced that the Quebec Government had established sixty bursaries each of the value of 650.00 per year, and asked that' each Company endeavour to give summer employment to a number of the in cumbents. . `* TL Author, D. XQlOCh'O'.'i iNvmmATioNi ASBESTOS IIVMKI Division or CKZVISTRY Period Covered tl&y 1S3 DA7E.....3..jJune....I93*. Date Typed: 23 June, 1938. Topics 1* 2* 3. ---- 4* 5* 6. Utilisation of 8hort Fibre. Asbestos Fibre for Filtration Purposee Standard Testing Procedure. A* P. A Meeting, Tests on Asphalt Floor Tile. Visitors to the Laboratory. 1. Utilization of Short Fibre. (a) It has been found thet if the light material is separated from short fibre (7 R) and is then mixed with Portland cement, the product obtained is considerably lighter in weight than when the whole fibre is used. Thus, with equal weights of this light fraction and Portland cement, the product weighs about 40 lbs/cu.ft. and has considerable strength. Because of the low density this product should also have low thermal conductivity. Using fibre such as has been prepared for filtration purposes, a product of very low density was obtained 17 lbs/cu.ft., and the colour is light creem. (b) The pressure molded specimens mentioned in the previous report, (Bo. C473B, p.2, par.f) have been broken end the following figures are representative of the results obtained: . Fibre Bo. 646 - 1 part Portland Cement 1 part Bo water added Tensile Strength 1125 lbs/3q. in. 1*5% water edded 1225 n " n water added "TOT " n " Comp. Strength Density 15,375 lbs/ 2.27 gns/cc or sq. in. 142 lbs/cu.ft,. 19,67'5 lbsT" 2.40 gr.8/ce or sq. in. 150 lbe/cu.ft. 19,0o6lbs"A 2.27 gsts/cc o sq. in. 142 lbs/cu.ft. The specimens which were molded with water had a very pleasing appearance, and should be suitable for decorative building purposes. . COPY TOR THE PRESIDENT i C'tr" 2 AebeetQB Fibre for Filtration Purposes,. (a) Teste have been cade on opening of fibre with rode in place of pebbles In a small pebble still* also vltb hard rubber balls In place of the pebbles* It vae found that the rods did not cut the fibre as ouch as pebbles do* but on the otter hand the opening efficiency was somewhat lower* Further study le warranted* The hard rubber balls did not of course damage the fibre at all* but the efficiency vae very low* A metal ball with a rubber covering would perhaps give interesting results. The possibility of using the J. B. opener for opening fibre for filtration purposes has been Investigated* but the results lndloated that this type of machine would, not be satisfactory. Seven passes through the opener.left tho fibre with a large number of pencils* and did not reftgqae the magnetite to nearly the 9&me degree as the pebble mill does* (b) At the request of hr* W* A. Bewail a conference was attended at Toronto regarding the proposed arrangements for the production of filtration asbestos on a commercial! scale* After a lengthy discussion of the various terms of the agreement* It vaa suggested to Br. Bewail that he write a letter to the Council* listing Items on which he wlBhed to obtain mors official information* Items he wished amended* deleted or added* 3. Standing Tasting Procedure. . . . Hoxk on the development of a standard testing procedure for the <. test has been continued. In report Bo. C 6jf-383, prepared by A. van finsen, a tentative prooedure consisting of "cake opener - press - cake opener", Is suggested* but tests which have been made Indicate that the problem has -not been entirely solved as variations In test were still obtained* 4. st. A. P. A. Meeting " The regular meeting of the Association* held on 23 Bay* 1938 at Sherbrooke* was attended* Report Bo. C61*383 ( see above ) was presented and discussed. It was decided that the Canadian Johns-B&nsvllie Company would build a cake opener euch as was designed here* and would put It at the disposal of the Technical Consaittee.