<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
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Act"); 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, 1996, 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 6th day of December, 1996.




                                                /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
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Act"); 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, 1996, 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 6th day of December, 1996.




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

<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
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Act"); 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, 1996, 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 6th day of December, 1996.




                                                     /s/  Thomas O. Hicks
                                                     --------------------    
                                                     Thomas O. Hicks
<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
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Act"),  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, 1996, 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 6th day of December, 1996.




                                                 /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
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Act"); 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, 1996, 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 6th day of December, 1996.




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



<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
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Act"); 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, 1996, 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 6th day of December, 1996.




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