Document zN32qBGnNE1Jbo3Dg9Gn9OX3
E;T*IU
Internal Correspondence
Date: To:
May 13, 1986 All Sales Offices, Agents & Distributors
Copy: From: Subject
R. Burks, R. Petkash
Jim Fisher
ASBESTOS USED IN FRICTION MATERIALS
SALES DEPARTMENT LETTER #86-04
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This is an update on our position on the use of asbestos based
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friction materials in Airflex products.
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In essence, our position is the same as that originaliyjexpressed in
BobRosenow's Sales Department Letter #76-46 back in l-976., -Although
there is a significant asbestos content in these materiaLs,*:to the
best of our knowledge, very little of this asbestos5is^liberated to
the air in normal use of the clutch and/or brake; The very localized
hot spots at the friction surface chemically changes'-the asbestos
into other harmless minerals. What litt^.asbestos that is
liberated, most likely will not result'fdconceptrations anywhere
near what would be considered hazardous!Ip^tljs necessary to
document meeting the OSHA specification, physical measurement of the
airborne concentration of asbestos <fnringr:a:'t^pical day of operation
will be required.
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The only practical hazard presented,0% these friction linings would
be if the customer attemps%o machine, grind or sand down the
friction blocks. These actions may"release significant quantities of
asbestos and expose ^#^>r.tanam>sto` a potential hazardous asbestos
concentration. WE DO iNOT RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE MACHINE OR OTHERWISE
PROCESS THE ASBESTOS BASED,FRICTION BLOCKS IN ANY WAY.
'' In spite of
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temotepeets of the hazards associated with the '
asbestos f^i^tion materials, we are in the process of replacing them
with non-as&estos materials as our standard material in all of our
produetj^ih'd" ,fThis is primarily due to a recent increase in
demaddv, SVs .yohiafce aware, we are in the process of changing the
standard .friction material for our VC, VE, E, CB, EB, DBA, DP and HD
products to rioh-asbestos. The CS, CSA and CTE product lines and the
'Slip dinings"5"will follow shortly as soon as suitable materials are
found~and sufficiently tested
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` Jim Fisher
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form 30-23 (Rev 12/63)
SCF-EC-3065
FAW 17188