Asbestos sheets are made from chrysotile asbestos, which is magnesium hydrosilicate and belongs to the group of layered silicates. This mineral tolerates alkaline media, but decomposes in acids with the formation of amorphous silica. Large deposits of this element are located in Canada, Russia (Kiembaevskoye and Bazhenovskoye deposits in the Urals), China. The leading place in terms of the volume of extracted raw materials belongs to our country.
Pros and Cons of Asbestos Products
Basically, asbestos sheets of some articles contain fibers that are characterized by low electrical conductivity (suitable for insulation), high heat resistance, inertness to most chemical influences, ozone, oxygen. The material is heat-resistant (melting points lie in the range of 1400-1500 degrees), it binds well with other ingredients. A significant drawback of this material is that asbestos dust can become carcinogenic if it enters the respiratory tract. Therefore, in the production of asbestos technical products, a full range of labor protection measures should be implemented.
When carrying out work (roofing, heat insulation, and others) in which asbestos sheets are involved, this material is considered safe, since it is bound in finished products (with oil, bitumen, resins, rubber, gypsum). However, many countries choose not to use such components completely. In particular, in the European Union asbestos components have been completely banned since 2005, but in the rest of the world they are used in many industries.
Pure asbestos does not apply.
Asbestos sheets are made by combining asbestos fibers or elements with other materials. For example, asbestos articles issued according to GOST Nos. 12586-84 and 12856-96 are made of a wire frame (perforated), on which both sides are coated with asbolatex paper with a graphite surface based on synthetic rubbers. They are used in carburetor or diesel engines as gaskets of a certain size. Such products can withstand temperature changes from minus 60 to plus 400, are well restored after compression, withstand the effects of gasoline, combustion products, diesel fuel.
Asbestos board is used in many industries.
Where to buy asbestos sheet for use in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy? Such material (cardboard based on chrysolite fibers) is sold through construction stores. It is marked “KTM” and is issued in accordance with GOST No. 2850 - 95. The cardboard of the heat-insulating brand is suitable for a number of operations in the energy sector, mechanical engineering, and the automotive industry (for gaskets in silencers). In accordance with the same document, KAON is produced (the abbreviation for “general purpose asbestos cardboard”), which can be used for thermal insulation at high temperatures (up to 500 degrees), seals in the joints of devices operating in gas, alkaline, organic environments.
How expensive is asbestos sheet? The price of products depends on its type. For example, a small-format asbestos sheet (0.67 x 0.51 meters) will cost the buyer about 550-580 rubles. And articles from a series of cardboards with dimensions of 1.0 x 0.8 meters will cost about 400-420 rubles.