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Did you work with National Refractories and Minerals Company refractory brick, castables, plastic refractories, gunning mixes, and insulating materials distributed to steel mills, foundries, powerhouses, cement kilns, and glass plants? According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, it allegedly contained asbestos. Here is what it was, who was exposed, and who is responsible. National Refractories and Minerals Company refractory brick, castables, plastic refractories, gunning mixes, and insulating materials distributed to steel mills, foundries, powerhouses, cement kilns, and glass plants, made by National Refractories Minerals, sold from 1930 until 1980. Plaintiffs alleged National Refractories and Minerals Company distributed asbestos-containing refractory brick, plastic refractories, and insulating materials used in steel mills, foundries, and industrial furnaces. Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that National Refractories and Minerals Company refractory products included asbestos-containing formulations — plastic refractories, insulating cements, gunning mixes, and mineral-wool-based block — used to line hot-face industrial furnaces. Bricklayers, refractory workers, and boilermakers alleged exposure when cutting, mixing, gunning, troweling, and demolishing these linings during original installation and periodic tear-out. Workers allegedly exposed around this product included Bricklayer, Refractory Worker, Boilermaker, and Millwright. Asbestos claims are brought against the companies that made the products. If you worked with or around National Refractories and Minerals Company refractory brick, castables, plastic refractories, gunning mixes, and insulating materials distributed to steel mills, foundries, powerhouses, cement kilns, and glass plants and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim against the manufacturer. This is educational information from an independent publisher — not a law firm — and is not legal advice.
Product Description
National Refractories & Minerals Company manufactured and distributed a broad range of refractory brick, castables, plastic refractories, gunning mixes, and insulating materials to heavy industry. Its products were installed in steel mill open-hearth and basic-oxygen furnaces, ladle and tundish linings, foundry cupolas, cement rotary kilns, glass tanks, and powerhouse boilers.
Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that National Refractories asbestos-containing product formulations released respirable fibers when workers cut, mixed, gunned, or troweled the materials into hot-face linings, and again during tear-out and demolition of spent refractory. Companion mineral-wool and refractory-insulating block products distributed by National were similarly alleged to contain asbestos.
Workers Exposed
- Bricklayers and refractory workers who laid, cut, and patched National Refractories brick and plastic refractories in industrial furnaces
- Boilermakers who installed and tore out refractory linings on boilers and ladles
- Millwrights and maintenance mechanics who patched and rebuilt refractory linings during furnace outages
- Steel mill and foundry workers who worked in the vicinity of hot demolition and installation of National refractory products