Archive for the ‘Asbestos’ Category
August 21st, 2009 | 
Author: Ancient people regarded asbestos as sinister because it resisted fire, and their instincts were right, although for a different reason. Today we know that asbestos fibers, if inhaled and ingested, can cause a range of crippling and fatal diseases. But the mineral is still valuable in industry. Missed into cement, it is used to make pipes, to construct ductworks and to provide fireproof coatings. Woven into fibers, it is used in brake linings, insulation, fireproof curtains and in conveyer belts for transporting hot materials. The ancient Chinese used it to make removable sleeves which could be cleaned by putting them into fire.
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