The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-02-23


packing for divers mechanical use,
where heat and acids haveto be deal
: with. Again, asbestos possesses
cloaking or protective quality OF merit
in combining cold or in shielding from
the effects of low temperatures; and
the stuff is utilized variously in elec-
trical installations as in insulator and
as a screening or sheltering blanket
In fact asbestos is decidedly unique in
combining the dual qualities of an in
sulator of both heat and electricity.
A good grade of asbestos tape will
stand a rise in temperature of 527 de-
grees Fahrenheit before a breakdown
occurs and is proof against electrical
puncture up to $50 volts. On the other
hand some asbestos goods will stand
temperature of 1000 degrees Fahren-
heit.
Finally to bring asbestos still closer
to us. the manufacturers are now turn
ing out wearing apparel in which this
mineral is helpfully Incorporated. That
is to say, aprons, coats, gloves, over
ais, shoes, and whole suits, with or
without helmets, are now available.
Most of us are familiar with the ashes
tOs household articles, such as baking
sheets. stove mats, table covers and
pads. flatiron holders and the like. And
then at the show. for our further secur-
ity, there are theater curtains and
booths for motion picture machines of
asbestos. All of these applications of
asbestos are suggestive hints of pos
sibly wider fields in which it may
serve us in the near future
AS may be apprehended. asbestos
fiber of the best crude" is not as
strong as many filaments of vegetable
origin. such as cotton and flax, but,
even so, manufacturers have succeed |
ed in producing asbestos thread of
sufficient tensile strength to answer
for numerous purposes. |
Threads of this sort are now made /
that weigh but an ounce per hundred /
yards, and these are woven into var
ious fabrics. To prepare the fibers for |
spinning they are first carded and |
then condensed in manner akin to /
the procedure in vogue in the ordinary /
textile plant But, as might be ex-
pected. because of the distinctive |
of asbestos, it has tax
en- time and much experimenting to
evolve machinery suited to the work.
The fiber is first formed into "sliv-
ers." These are coiled in cans and
carried to the spinning department,
where they are twisted into threads.
Once brought to this state, the ashes
los is then fit for weaving, and is next
fed to the different apparatus which
fabricate it into yarn. tape, or cloth.
lgreeably to the uses to which it is to
be put. AS will be readily understood,
he yarns are wound upon bObbins and
spools to facilitate the operations at
The several machines. For certain
where strength is an es-
sential factor wire and asbestos are
woven together: and it is in this man
1er that brake-linings, for instance
IRE manufactured
The production of mill board. in
which short fiber asbestos is employ
81 - fundamentally a uNlDilNtlAlOA VI
he course pursued in turning out
,astebOard-in short, is analogous to
,aper- mill practice. The asbestos fl
yer is dumped into tanks where it is
ubjected to the action of rotary ]
,eater and the stuff is pulped and
mixed with the other ingredients that !
onstitute the binding medium. The I
after is commonly a type of hydraulic I
ement When the pulp has reached a !
roper consistency it is discharged in :
D a vat, where il is continually agi 7
lted until picked up by a screen {
hitch envelopes rotating cylinder I
rom the cylinedr the mushy stuff is +
by an endless belt of metal T.
)ns and is there pressed for the pur- i
ose of getting rid Of a good deal of i
he contained water. Gradually, upon a
he upper of the two cylinders are 7
lilt up layers of the plastic material s
nd. when the accumulation is of suf- ,
cient thickness. it is removed from
he cylinder by single lengthwise 81
IT. n
When sheets of this nature leave the VI
lis they are placed in hydraulic g.
'esses between flat steel plates, p;
here still more of the residual moist tc
e is expelled. After proper seas e.
ing period this mill board or ashes <,
S lumber is ready for distribution
the trade. The stuff can be sawed,
t. drilled and nailed easily and is
DEFY employed for paneiing, for
,inscoting. for ceilings and parti-
ms.
Asbestos paper is manufactured Fl
I'm fiber ranging from that too short pl
measure up TO filaments having a 81
lximum length OF half an inch. This FL
IF is known to the trade as paper Id
,ck." and in producing the paper Sc
tween and 10 per cent of the com Se
sition is a binder which varies ac- wi
riding to the use to which the finish st
article is to be put. The binder, re
g. u ..1,.