Determination of Asbestos in Mortar Admixture by TG-DTA

Introduction

A notification issued by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in July 2004 entitled “Prevention of Asbestos Exposure in Serpentine Mortar Admixture” stipulates that differential thermogravimetry (D-TG) is effective for analyzing serpentine rock used in mortar admixtures. In plastering work, ground serpentine rock mortar admixture is used to increase the workability of a coating. Serpentine, the principal ingredient of serpentine rock, includes chrysotile that is asbestos, as well as non-asbestos antigorite and lizardite. When using a mortar admixture, it is necessary to confirm the presence of asbestos, or chrysotile. If the use of serpentine rock is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, then it is necessary to confirm the presence of chrysotile by D-TG.

April 14, 2006 GMT