Document yk9pY0pe26Xp3r42JYORQnRm6

FROM L. L. GRUBB QUALITY ASSURANCE DIVISION CLEVELAND WORKS TO MR. M. J. CAPRIO PURCHASING DEPARTMENT PITTSBURGH OFFICE frit April 5, 1976 RE: ALTERNATES FOR ASBESTOS AND ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS In response to your letter of March 30, we have replaced 1/16" thick asbestos roll board with .007" thick woven fiber glass cloth in titanium forging operations. Asbestos was formerly used as insulation between the 900F. forging dies and the preheated titanium parts at 1670F. or 1770F. The result was that the metal could be work-formed longer in the 35MT and 50MT presses. The hot pressing (forging) of the asbestos as insulation resulted in its disintegration into minute fibers throughout the working area. The introduction of fiber glass as a substitute for asbestos has proven to be a workable alternate over the past two years and a covering patent was granted to Alcoa in 1975. If any similar insulative requirements of asbestos are brought to your attention by other Alcoa plants in answer to your letter, additional details on glass fiber cloth usage can be provided. L. L. GRUBB LLG:lmg cc: R. L. Garrett / G. W. Kuhlman, Cleveland A. Puleo, M.D., Cleveland T. B. Gurganus, ATC 4110841577 r*49ea (ncv. U4)