asbestos in older grinding wheels?

D

DB731

Joined
Feb 10, 2013
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I read that some manufacturers used to add asbestos to their grinding wheels. Anybody heard of this practice? If true, can these be recognized in any way, or, should one stay clear of older products?

Thanks
 
They used to put asbestos in everything. probably even corn flakes.
 
I don't know whether asbestos was used in grinding wheels or not. However, it would not surprise me if it was.

Aside from its heat resistance, asbestos was often used as a reinforcing agent. The fibrous nature of the stuff acted just as short glass fibers do in Nylon. (FRN=Fiber Reinforced Nylon).
Asbestos also acted as a toughening agent. A microfracture in brittle material containing asbestos would start in the brittle material. It would reach the asbestos fiber. The fiber would stop the crack from growing further.

A long time ago I worked with materials containing asbestos in the lab. But I wasn't working with ceramics.

I don't think there is any way to determine from appearance if asbestos was used in a grinding wheel.
 
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