Amosite asbestos

Amosite Physical Properties

Property	Value
Luster	vitreous to pearly
Mohs hardness	5.5-6.0
Optical properties	biaxial positive parallel extinction
Flexibility	fair
Texture	course but somewhat pliable
Tensile strength MPa	1500-2600
Surface charge, mV	-20 to -40
Decomposition temp, deg C	600-900

Space Group: C2/M; Cation in M4 Site: Fe+-Mg

Cell lattice dimension: A = 9.6; B = 18.3; C = 5.3; beta = 102 deg; cleavage: (110) good = 55 deg /Cummingtonite-grunerite/

Electron microscope studies of amosite asbestos fibers reveal narrow bands of polysynthetic twinning and triple chains interlayered with the usual double chain structure of the amphiboles; most of the natural asbestos (amosite) fibers have orthorhombic optical properties of several microns

Approx min fiber width: 1500 angstroms (UICC reference samples (Unio Internationale Contra Cancrum))

Binds well with plastics