Asbestos in Electric Motors
Electric motors are another area where asbestos was often used. The insulation properties of asbestos made it useful in separating the different parts of an electric motor and it could thus be used as an integral part of the asbestos electric motor. However, there are many other materials which are less dangerous in terms of their health risks and should therefore be used instead of asbestos.
Insulation Systems of Electric Motors Using Asbestos
The main area where asbestos was used in electric motors was as part of the insulating system. Asbestos has excellent electric and heat resistant properties and could therefore help to insulate different motor components. Asbestos was used in electric motors because it not only helped to separate conducting materials from other components, but also had very good thermal insulation properties up to 180 degrees C. There were four insulation classes based on their thermal endurance – the first class was up to 105 degrees C, the second to 130 degrees C, third 155 degrees C, and the fourth 180 degrees C. Asbestos was able to endure all of these temperatures and thus made an excellent insulation material for electric motors; except of course for the risks it posed to the health of those who were exposed to it.Why Asbestos in Electric Motors Should Not be Used
A number of cases have been reported where employees working with asbestos in electric motors have been exposed to asbestos fibers and later contracted Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disorders. Asbestos in electric motors is not only dangerous to those who work with it, but also to all those who come in contact with the asbestos fibers from the electric motor. These fibers are then inhaled and make their way to the lungs, where they increase the risk of contracting Mesothelioma and other disorders. Thus, there is now a tendency to use other materials in electric motors instead of asbestos.The insulating property of asbestos, as well as its ability to endure intense heat, made it a popular choice in electric motors. Lately, there has been an increased concern about the health risks associated with asbestos, and it is therefore being phased out in favor of safer materials.
