Document nNm0B206vwODVq3qaexG9jQ91

FILE NAME: Kaiser Gypsum (KG) DATE: 1972 May 12 DOC#: KG071 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo RE Replacement of Asbestos in Plastic and Gun Plastic Cements KAISER C E M E N T <5- G Y P S U M C O R P O R A T I O N INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO G. C. D a v i s COPIES TO DATE May 12, 1972 \J.C. FROM J. C. McCoe SUBJECT .REPLACEMENT OF ASBESTOS IN P L A S T I C AND GUN P L A S T I C CEMENTS Due to the i n c r e a s e d a d v e r s e p u b l i c i t y o f p o s s i b l e d e t r i m e n t a l h e a l t h e f f e c t to w o r k e r s from us e o f a s b e s t o s b u i l d i n g p r o d u c t s , I c i r c u l a t e d s e v e r a l memos to company personnel r e q u e s tin g an i n v e s t i g a t i o n to f i n d a s u b s t i t u t e fo r asbestos in our p l a s t i c and gun p l a s t i c cements. Asbe stos serves a dual pur pose in these cements. It function s as a l u b r i c i t y in gun p l a s t ic to f a c i l i t a t e pumping, as well as i n c r e a s e s c o h e s i v e n e s s which f a c i l i t a t e s placement on vertical wall surfaces. J. P o s t has f u r n i s h e d me w i t h a co p y o f a b r i e f r e p o r t dat ed March 10, 1972, from P h il W estfall which states: "Among the p o s s i b l e r e p l a c e m e n t s e v a l u a t e d were c o a r s e and f i n e wood f i b e r s , pressed p o ly sty re n e beads, diatomaceous earth, Methocel (a m e t h y lc e llu l o s e polym er) , la t ex and v e r m i c u l i t e . The cement w ith Methocel r e p l a c i n g the asbestos e x h ib it e d coh esiveness and l u b r i c i t y , both of which are d esirab le c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s f o r a p l a s t i c o r gun p l a s t i c cement. However, a s u b s t a n t i a l s t r e n g t h r e d u c t i o n was r e a l i z e d upon r e p l a c i n g the a s b e s t o s w i th M e t h o c e l* . None o f the o t h e r m a t e r i a l s e v a l u a t e d when i n t e r g r o u n d w i t h cement pr o du ced a cement which approached the laboratory ground gun p l a s t i c . " *Note: Str e n g th re duction s were too major fo r consumer acceptance. approximated a 76% red uction at 1 and 7 days, 80% at 7 days. These T h i s means they have not to J. Post they e v a lu a t e or quantity of limestone l o c a t e d a s a t i s f a c t o r y s u b s t i t u t e . I recommended use o f l i m es to ne c h i p s as a s u b s t i t u t e . The q u a l i t y a t Permanente may n o t make t h i s f e a s i b l e . R e g a r d l e s s , I f e e l t h i s m a t t e r s h o u l d be b r o u g h t to the a t t e n t i o n o f o ur l a wy e r s i n the e v e n t we may sometime have l e g a l a c t i o n i n s t i t u t e d by someone u s i n g the cement. FORM 130 I r"\ / n o o n n o a a a a i