ASBESTOS

Introduction 

The term asbestos is derived from a Greek word meaning "inextinguishable, unquenchable or inconsumable." It is a generic name for a group of fibrous silicate minerals, the most common of which are chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite. Asbestos is non-flammable even at very high temperatures and is extremely flexible and durable.

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals

Asbestos use in automobiles

Asbestos has been a component of brake pads and linings, clutch facings and various gaskets for many years. Millions of brakes and clutches on cars, trucks, and on auto parts shelves still contain dangerous levels of the material, although it is not generally used in the production of new brakes or clutches.

Brake pads work by applying friction pressure on a spinning brake disc or inside abrake drum. Asbestos was a highly-resistant material heat used in areas producing friction and generating extreme heat. Asbestos brake pads wore and dislodged tiny particles as grit and fine dust.

Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of fibers. These fibers are found in soil and rocks in many parts of the world. They are made mainly of silicon and oxygen, but they also contain other elements. There are 2 main types of asbestos:

• Chrysotile asbestos, also known as white asbestos, is the most common type of asbestos in industrial applications. When looked at under the microscope, chrysotile asbestos fibers wrap around themselves in a spiral, which is why this form of asbestos is also called serpentine or curly asbestos.
• Amphibole asbestos fibers are straight and needle-like. There are several types of amphibole fibers, including amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite.