Allied Chemical Flastikon B200-106

Product Description

Allied Chemical Flastikon B200-106 was a phenolic compound manufactured by Allied Chemical Corporation’s Plaskon division, a business unit that specialized in thermosetting plastic materials for industrial and commercial applications. Phenolic compounds in the Flastikon product line were engineered resins and molding materials prized for their electrical insulation properties, dimensional stability under heat, and resistance to chemical degradation. These characteristics made them widely used throughout mid-twentieth century American industry in applications ranging from electrical components and circuit housings to industrial machinery parts and consumer goods manufacturing.

Allied Chemical Corporation was a major American chemical conglomerate with operations spanning multiple industrial sectors, including specialty chemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials. The Plaskon division operated as one of the company’s key units for thermosetting plastics, producing a range of phenolic, melamine, and urea-formaldehyde compounds marketed to manufacturers and industrial operations across the United States. The Flastikon B200-106 designation identified a specific formulation within this broader product line, indicating a compound with particular processing characteristics or performance properties suited to defined industrial end uses.

Phenolic molding compounds of this era were supplied in powder or granule form and processed through compression molding, transfer molding, or injection molding equipment to produce finished parts. The resulting components found their way into electrical switchgear, motor housings, appliance components, and a wide variety of industrial fittings and assemblies.

Asbestos Content

Phenolic thermosetting compounds produced during the mid-twentieth century frequently incorporated asbestos fibers as functional fillers and reinforcing agents. Asbestos was valued by formulators of phenolic compounds for several reasons: it improved the mechanical strength and impact resistance of molded parts, enhanced thermal stability at elevated operating temperatures, reduced shrinkage during the curing process, and contributed to the electrical insulation performance of finished components. These properties aligned closely with the performance demands placed on phenolic compound products like those in the Flastikon line.

Litigation records document that plaintiffs in cases involving Allied Chemical and its Plaskon division products alleged that certain Flastikon-branded phenolic compounds contained asbestos as a filler or reinforcing constituent. The specific mineral content of individual Flastikon formulations varied by product grade and intended application, as was common practice across the phenolic compounding industry during the decades these materials were produced. Plaintiffs alleged that Allied Chemical and its Plaskon division were aware, or should have been aware, of the hazards associated with asbestos-containing materials and failed to adequately warn workers and end users about the risks of fiber exposure.

The broader industrial context supports these allegations: asbestos-filled phenolic compounds were a documented category of material used widely across American manufacturing, and regulatory and scientific concern about asbestos hazards in workplace settings was developing throughout the 1960s and 1970s even as such products remained in active production and use.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers who handled, processed, or worked in proximity to Flastikon B200-106 and similar phenolic compounds faced potential asbestos fiber exposure at multiple stages of the product lifecycle. Workers in facilities that received the compound in powder or granule form may have been exposed during material handling and weighing operations, particularly when opening bags or containers of the compound, blending batches, or loading molding machines. Phenolic molding compounds in powder form are capable of generating airborne dust during these activities, and if that dust contained asbestos fibers, workers in the immediate area could inhale the released material.

Molding press operators who ran compression or transfer molding equipment using phenolic compounds were exposed to flash, dust, and particulate generated when molds opened and finished parts were ejected. Trimming, deflashing, and finishing operations performed on molded phenolic parts were additional exposure points, as these processes mechanically abraded the cured material and could release embedded fibers into the workplace air.

Maintenance workers who serviced molding equipment, cleaned production areas, or repaired and modified machinery that had come into contact with phenolic compounds also faced potential exposure. Litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged exposures occurring not only to primary production workers but also to those who performed incidental tasks in facilities where these compounds were used.

The general industrial worker population identified in connection with Flastikon B200-106 reflects the broad distribution of phenolic compound products across American manufacturing. Workers in electrical component manufacturing, appliance production, automotive parts fabrication, and general industrial molding operations all represented categories of potential exposure. In many of these settings, asbestos exposure from molding compound dust occurred alongside other occupational hazards, and workers were rarely provided with adequate respiratory protection or informed of the specific composition of the materials they handled.

Because Allied Chemical Flastikon B200-106 falls within the category of litigated asbestos-containing products rather than products covered by an established asbestos bankruptcy trust fund, individuals who believe they were harmed by exposure to this product have pursued civil litigation as their primary legal avenue.

Litigation records document claims brought against Allied Chemical Corporation and successor entities related to asbestos-containing products manufactured or sold under the company’s various divisions, including Plaskon. Plaintiffs in these cases alleged that the company failed to adequately warn workers and end users about the hazards of asbestos exposure, failed to provide appropriate safety information with its products, and continued to market asbestos-containing compounds despite growing knowledge of associated health risks.

Diseases documented in connection with occupational asbestos exposure include mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related pulmonary conditions. Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen, is considered a signature disease of asbestos exposure and is recognized under applicable law as a compensable injury arising from workplace contact with asbestos-containing materials.

Workers or surviving family members who believe exposure to Allied Chemical Flastikon B200-106 or similar Plaskon phenolic compounds contributed to an asbestos-related illness should consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation to evaluate available legal options. In addition to claims against the manufacturer, plaintiffs may have claims against other parties in the chain of distribution, including distributors, equipment manufacturers, or employers who failed to provide safe working conditions. Some cases may also involve asbestos trust fund claims if other products from different manufacturers contributed to the claimant’s total exposure history.

The statute of limitations for asbestos claims varies by state and typically begins to run from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure. Prompt consultation with qualified legal counsel is important to preserve legal rights and ensure that all applicable claims are identified and filed within the required timeframes.