<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 (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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.



                                         /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 (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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.



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




<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 (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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.



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






<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 (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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.



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









<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 (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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.



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







<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 (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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.



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








<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
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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.



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








<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
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, 1998, 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 11th day of December 1998.




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