MC-Gun Mix

Product Description

MC-Gun Mix was a commercially manufactured product produced by Keene Corporation, a diversified industrial manufacturer that operated across multiple product lines throughout much of the twentieth century. The product was marketed and sold under the Keene name and was designed for application in demanding industrial environments where heat resistance, durability, and surface adhesion were primary requirements.

The name “MC-Gun Mix” suggests a spray- or gun-applied formulation, consistent with the category of materials used in industrial construction and maintenance settings. Products of this type were commonly applied using pneumatic spray equipment or hand-operated gun applicators, allowing workers to coat surfaces quickly and uniformly across large areas. Based on its documented product categories, MC-Gun Mix was associated with a range of industrial applications including floor tile systems, pipe insulation, refractory materials, spray fireproofing, and valves and steam traps — a broad cross-section of the built industrial environment.

Keene Corporation, the product’s manufacturer, eventually became the subject of substantial asbestos-related litigation. The company had interests across multiple industries and product lines, and its asbestos liability ultimately played a significant role in its corporate and legal history.

Asbestos Content

Although precise formulation records specifying the exact percentage of asbestos fiber by weight in MC-Gun Mix are not publicly detailed in available documentation, the product’s association with multiple asbestos-containing product categories is consistent with industry-wide formulation practices of the era in which it was produced.

During the decades when products like MC-Gun Mix were manufactured and sold, asbestos was a standard additive in a wide range of construction and industrial materials. In spray fireproofing formulations, asbestos — particularly chrysotile and amosite fibers — was used because of its fire resistance, tensile strength, and ability to bond with binding agents during application. Refractory materials relied on asbestos to withstand extreme thermal cycling. Pipe insulation products incorporated asbestos to reduce heat transfer and protect underlying piping infrastructure. Floor tile products of this period routinely contained chrysotile asbestos as a reinforcing and binding component.

Valves and steam traps — another documented category for MC-Gun Mix — were frequently manufactured with asbestos-containing gaskets, packing materials, and insulating wraps to withstand high-pressure, high-temperature steam systems found in industrial plants and shipyards.

Litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged MC-Gun Mix contained asbestos at concentrations sufficient to pose a significant health hazard to those who manufactured, applied, or maintained it over time.

How Workers Were Exposed

Industrial workers represent the primary occupational group documented in connection with MC-Gun Mix exposure. Given the product’s range of applications — spanning spray fireproofing, pipe insulation, refractory work, floor tile installation, and valve and steam trap maintenance — exposure pathways were varied and occurred across multiple trades and job functions within industrial settings.

Spray Application and Mixing: Workers who prepared and applied gun-mix formulations were at elevated risk of fiber release. Dry mixing of asbestos-containing powders, addition of water or binding agents, and pressurized spray application all created conditions under which asbestos fibers could become airborne. Workers operating spray equipment in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces faced concentrated exposure environments.

Pipe Insulation Work: Insulators and pipefitters who applied, cut, or removed asbestos-containing pipe insulation came into direct contact with friable materials. Sawing, sanding, or tearing damaged insulation released respirable fibers into the breathing zone of workers and bystanders.

Refractory Installation and Repair: Workers installing or repairing furnaces, kilns, boilers, and other high-heat industrial equipment using refractory materials were routinely exposed to fiber-bearing dust generated during cutting, shaping, and surface preparation of these products.

Floor Tile Installation and Removal: Tile setters and floor mechanics who installed or later removed asbestos-containing floor tile — whether by cutting, grinding, or mechanically lifting tiles — could disturb embedded fibers, particularly when tiles became brittle with age.

Valve and Steam Trap Maintenance: Pipefitters, boilermakers, and maintenance mechanics who worked on valves and steam trap assemblies containing asbestos packing and gasket materials were exposed when disassembling fittings, removing old packing, or handling replacement materials. High-pressure steam systems accelerated the degradation of asbestos-containing components, increasing fiber release during routine maintenance cycles.

Litigation records document that plaintiffs alleged exposures occurred over extended periods — often spanning entire careers — without adequate warnings about the health risks associated with asbestos inhalation. Plaintiffs further alleged that Keene Corporation was aware, or should have been aware, of the hazardous nature of asbestos-containing products and failed to take appropriate action to protect workers or disclose known risks.

Diseases associated with occupational asbestos exposure and documented in litigation involving asbestos-containing products include mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease. Mesothelioma — a malignancy affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart — is considered a signature disease of asbestos exposure and has no known cause other than asbestos fiber inhalation.

MC-Gun Mix falls under Tier 2 — Litigated Product status. No dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund has been identified as directly administering claims specifically for this product under the Keene Corporation name in the same manner as some other manufacturers. Individuals with documented exposure to MC-Gun Mix should be aware of the following legal avenues.

Civil Litigation: Litigation records document that plaintiffs who alleged asbestos exposure from MC-Gun Mix and other Keene Corporation products pursued civil claims in state and federal courts. Plaintiffs alleged product liability on theories including failure to warn, negligent design, and strict liability. Those who developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis following documented occupational exposure have standing to pursue civil litigation against responsible parties.

Related Trust Fund Eligibility: Because asbestos exposure in industrial settings typically involved multiple products from multiple manufacturers, individuals exposed to MC-Gun Mix may also have compensable claims through asbestos bankruptcy trusts established by other manufacturers whose products were used in the same worksites or job functions. An attorney experienced in asbestos litigation can evaluate the full exposure history to identify all potentially responsible parties and applicable trust funds.

Statute of Limitations: Asbestos-related claims are subject to statutes of limitations that vary by state and typically begin running from the date of diagnosis — not the date of exposure. Because of the long latency period of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases (often 20 to 50 years), individuals may only recently have received a diagnosis despite exposures occurring decades earlier. Prompt legal consultation is strongly advised.

Recommended Steps: Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease who believe they were exposed to MC-Gun Mix or other Keene Corporation products should gather employment records, union membership documentation, co-worker affidavits, and any product identification records that can establish the exposure history necessary to support a legal claim.