Recently found at a car boot sale, both unused.what I would like to know is it safe to use the asbestos one or is it just the disposal of it when worn out which is dangerous,members thoughts on the subject most welcome. Regards Ian.
The most dangerous thing about asbestos are lose airborne particles. So, if the asbestos is 'sealed' in place, there is little risk. With a mantle that is heated to a very high temperature, then cools down, and is again heated etc. the risk of small particles becoming airborne and being inhaled is to high in my humble opinion. I'd use the metal one, and spray (quite a bit of) hairspray over the asbestos one as a sealant. Thus it can be kept and maybe even put on display (behind glass). @Mr cod
Most dangerous is the carton box I guess, since that is the place the loose broken, fibres are collected.....
If you're planning on disposal you'll need to wrap it in more than one layer of plastic at take it to the local waste company for advice.... or ..... glass / perspex display case
WimVe is right. The box. Be careful with the loose particles inside the box. I'd not be as worried about asbestos from the burnt-in mantles as much as most guys. There had been studies / tests conducted in the past which showed that the carcinogenic properties of asbestos could be drastically reduced or eliminated by heating it to very high temperatures (around 1000 deg C). Mantle operating temperatures, for instance. Heating to such temperatures would alter the crystalline structure of asbestos permanently where the micro-fibrils would be pretty much destroyed. Some important phase-changes it seemed, where a larger portion eventually turns into amorphous magnesium silicate.
I would put it separately out of heater in the sealed jar as a display... I had same one and I throw it away, it had small hole aside so I could not use it anyway...
The Asbestos mantles really throw out the heat, moreso than their steel counterparts. I have one in use which has survived decades of burning and at least 3 different owners Alec.
