Several types of ceramic fibres are available with good thermal and chemical resistance, low thermal mass (heat storage), resistance to thermal shock and low thermal conductivity.
Carbon fibres, including graphite fibres have excellent properties including high stiffness and tensile strength and they are relatively inert to environmental conditions.
Polypropylene fibers has been used to reinforce flooring products and underlay felts while Polypropylene fibers has been used to reinforce flooring products and underlay felts.
Steel fibres have not been substituted for asbestos despite their strength and heat resistance, good availability and low cost, due to inadequate corrosion resistance. Steel alloys could solve the corrosion problems but their cost is too high.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres have a high modulus and low elongation under load, which confers on them a high tenacity (the capacity to reinforce composites). They impart high strength and impact resistance to composites.
Cellulose fibres, including wood pulp, cotton linters; cotton libres, coconut fibre and sisal, have been used as asbestos substitutes in fibre-cement sheet products, in papers, in filters and in felts. Some corrugated fibre-cement sheeting has been produced with sisal in Kenya.
While there are many other products currently used in residential and commercial construction, and for water distribution and sewerage, none matches the combination of technical and economic advantages of chrysotile-cement. Here is a short review of some of the alternative products on the market.
Asbestos is a unique mineral relating to its set of properties. To substitute asbestos it is necessary to combine many other substances, which benefits cannot always compare to the ones of asbestos.