What are the properties and uses of asbestos
Why is asbestos used?
Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant.
What was asbestos used for in construction?
Asbestos was used extensively in home construction from the early 1940s through the 1970s as highly-effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material and thermal and acoustic insulator. It is now known that prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung disease.
How many characteristics of asbestos are there?
Asbestos is classified in two groups–serpentine and amphibole–depending on the curved or straight configuration of their fibres.
What is asbestos still used in today?
Asbestos was used for its ability to strengthen and fireproof materials, including concrete, bricks, fireplace cement, pipes and insulation. Although the use of asbestos has been largely phased out since the 1980s, it can still be found in products such as gaskets and brake pads.
Is asbestos used in India?
Though the Supreme Court of India banned its use on January 21, 2011, it is still being widely used across India. The country uses about 350,000 tonnes of asbestos annually and the industry is growing by 12 per cent annually.
When was asbestos first used in homes?
What Is Asbestos? Asbestos. The name has its origin in the Greek word for inextinguishable. A highly-effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material and thermal and acoustic insulator, asbestos was used extensively in home construction from the early 1940s through the 1970s.
What are the physical characteristics of asbestos?
Other Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Color | cobalt blue to lavender blue |
| Luster | silky to dull |
| Mohs hardness | 4.0 |
| Specific gravity | 3.2-3.3 |
What is asbestos meaning?
Asbestos refers to a group of fibrous minerals used to strengthen and fireproof materials. When inhaled over long periods of time, asbestos fibers become trapped in the body and cause diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
When was asbestos banned?
July 12, 1989
On July 12, 1989, the EPA issued a ban on most asbestos-containing products. Initially, the EPA’s asbestos ban strictly regulated certain products. Two years later, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans overturned the ban.