<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ Kenneth F. Yontz
                                                --------------------
                                                 Kenneth F. Yontz

<PAGE>   2

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ Don H. Davis Jr.
                                                --------------------
                                                 Don H. Davis Jr.

<PAGE>   3

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ Christopher L. Doerr
                                                ------------------------
                                                  Christopher L. Doerr


<PAGE>   4

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ Robert B. Haas
                                                ------------------
                                                  Robert B. Haas

<PAGE>   5

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ Thomas O Hicks
                                                ------------------
                                                 Thomas O. Hicks

<PAGE>   6

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ William U. Parfet
                                                ---------------------
                                                  William U. Parfet

<PAGE>   7

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ Joe L. Roby
                                                ---------------
                                                  Joe L. Roby

<PAGE>   8

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned, a director of Sybron International Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints  R. Jeffrey Harris and Dennis Brown, or either of
them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and
authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things
and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and
agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply
with the Securities and Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended: and
including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and
authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the
undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these
presents as of the 12th day of December, 1997.




                                                /s/ Richard W. Vieser
                                                ---------------------
                                                  Richard W. Vieser