Document o9MGXLdZV8app98JMY8J8gO7D

Dr.w. H. Brasher Union Carbide Musleer Cmpmny Tuxedo, Bm York Dr.. J. C. Brantley Mr. G. B. Clewett k. S. M. Siegel Dr. C. 0. Strother ter. R. A. Conway Asbestos Sear Bill: Thank you for your letter of May 26. X found It and the attached report describing your experiments with Coalings asbestos very interesting. X have delayed answering your letter until now hoping that by thinking on the subject X aight be inspired with same good ideas, or that 1 might be ibis to come up with some sage comments. Unfortunately, no brilliant vision has appeared. :,. . '' ;*V.r..:> The work which is going on in the use of asbestos aa an aid to aewaga disposal indicates this to be e very promising use for the material, and I have little to offer beyond what le already planned in extension of this work. 4 A most interesting application for the asbestos is as a filler to improve quality of certain resins. The work that Bat Zutty has dona with bis-phenol A-epichlorohydrin resin looks extremely promising. In this case the additive hag contributed stress-crack resistance without destroying transparency of the polymer. While this use will be beneficial to the Plastics Company, it will not be a big consumer of asbestos since only 6-10X of the weight of the resin la used. . C. CHITWOOD 11-74 x ^-- UCC 001895 Br, If. H. Dnsbcr 2 Ant 26, 1964 It Is difficult to tptculat* on the uscfulMM of Asbestos as a catalyst for gas-phase reactions. Host catalytic oxidations In the chemical industry operate at tang eraturns bale* 450*C, so the fact that asbestos decomposes at this temperature should not seriously limit its utility. A cursory examination of the material aa a catalyst for vapor-phase oxidations would appear to be worthwhile to determine whether or not there is any possibility that it could be successfully employed. As a starting point, Z would suggest experiments with simple hydrocarbons (propylene, ethylene, and' isobutane); alcohols such as ethanol and Isopropyl alcohol; a simple ketone such as methyl ethyl ketone; and possibly an alde hyde (acetaldehyde). From positive leads obtained in these initial experiments a practical program of extension to more interesting compounds could be planned. At the moment all of my people are fully engaged in work of great urgency and we would not be able to start any ex periments with asbestos for some time. If you decide to look into the oxidations yourself, 1 should be glad to give what help 1 can in suggesting reaction conditions. ' Sincerely yours. BCC:etc H. C. Chitwood UCC 001896