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FAQWhat is Asbestos?Asbestos was called "the magic mineral" because its unique chemical composition and physical properties made it suitable for use in thousands of products from floor tiles to road signs, from sewage pipes to insulating mattresses. Asbestos fibres can withstand the fiercest heat but are so soft and flexible that they can be spun and woven as easily as cotton. 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 detailed below. Chrysotile:Also known as WHITE ASBESTOS Chrysotile is a member of the Serpentine group, so-named because the fibre is curly. Chrysotile fibres are the most flexible of all asbestos fibres and their resistance to alkaline attack makes Chrysotile a useful reinforcing material in asbestos-cement building products. Chrysotile has traditionally been the most widely used of all asbestos types, accounting for approximately 95% of asbestos mined annually. The importation and use of Chrysotile was banned in the UK in 1999. Crocidolite:Crocidolite is known colloquially as BLUE ASBESTOS and is a member of the Amphibole group. The needle-like fibres are the strongest of all asbestos fibres and have a high resistance to acids. The high bulk volume of crocidolite makes it suitable for use in sprayed insulation. Crocidolite is known to be the most lethal of all the asbestos types. Its import into the UK was banned in 1985. Amosite:Amosite is also known as BROWN ASBESTOS and is, like crocidolite, a member of the Amphibole group. Its harsh, spiky fibres have good tensile strength and resistance to heat. Amosite has been principally used in the UK in the manufacture of insulation boards. The import of Amosite into the UK was banned in 1985.
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