Johns-Manville Research Laboratory Report on Experimental Amosite Pipe Insulation and Navy Specification 32-P-8 (1944)

Report No. 21-6481 (problem 3-LP-074) of the Johns-Manville Research Laboratory at Manville, New Jersey, dated October 20, 1944, requested by P. F. McDermott, on "Experimental Amosite Pipe Insulation" and its "Compliance with U.S. Navy Specification 32-P-8." Sections of the new amosite pipe insulation, some made with scrap from an earlier run, were tested for density, abrasion, strength, heat resistance, shrinkage, hardness and moisture. The laboratory found that the material "met the physical requirements of Navy Specification 32-P-8, Grade II," apart from two groups that were too soft after heating.

What it shows

The report shows Johns-Manville developing an amosite pipe insulation in 1944 to meet the Navy's specification for pipe covering, at the height of wartime shipbuilding. It is a technical test report only: it says nothing about dust or the health of the people who would make or install the product. Earlier that year the Maritime Commission's health consultant had warned the Navy about amosite dust in a shipyard (see Philip Drinker's letter of January 1944).

About this copy

A poor photocopy stamped "Master File Copy" and "Best Copy," marked as Plaintiff's Exhibit 1822. The lower part of each page is blotted and some table footnotes cannot be read.