Replacement for Asbestos Asbestos has been widely used for a variety ofpurpr~ses.The clear demonstration vfthe harmful effects v f a s h e s t ~when ~ ashestos dust. enters the lungs has made it. essential that replacement p r d u c t s be developed. For this purprse, fiherglass is a logical candidate. Hvwever, several important uses for ashestos are in alkaline environments where glass has poor durability. The development of alkali resistant glasses which can he spun into fihers are heing used to reinforce cement, as a replacement for the conventimal mortar in a masonry wall, and to replace asbestw in calcium silicate insulation prcducts. T h e presence of titanium oxide and zirconium oxide in the glass formulations is essential. This product was developed hy Owens-Cvrning Fiherglas Corp. Wolf. W. W.. U.S. Patent 3.840.379: Chem. Abstracts, 80. 136794~ (1974):81, 157741 (1974) W. Conard Fernelius
Sebasic Acid from Adipic Acid Electrochemically Chemists of Asahi Chemical Industry of Tokyo, Japan. announce an inexpensive electro-oxidation process to produce sehasic acid from readily available adipic acid. The process is a three step vne IIE (1) esteriljing adipic acid with methanol to the monoester; (2) subjecting the sodium salt of the monoester to a Kolbe electn,dimerization; and (3) hydrolysis of the resulting diester to sehasic acid H O ~ C ~ C H I I I C O+ ~ HCH:xOH
- CH:
