Asbestos (a misapplication of
Latin: asbestos "quicklime" from
Greek ἄóâåóôïò: a, "not" and sbestos, "extinguishable") describes any of a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals of the hydrous magnesium silicate variety. The
name is derived for its historical use in
lamp wicks; the resistance of asbestos to
fire has
long been exploited for a variety of purposes. Asbestos was used in fabrics such as Egyptian burial cloths and Charlemagne's tablecloth which according to legend, he threw in a
fire to clean. Asbestos occurs naturally in many forms (see below); it is mined from metamorphic
rocks.
When asbestos is used for its resistance to
fire or heat, the fibers are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. Asbestos is used in brake
shoes and gaskets for its heat resistance, and in the past was used on electric oven and hotplate wiring for its electrical insulation at elevated temperature, and in buildings for its
flame-retardant and insulating properties, tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals. The inhalation of some kinds of asbestos fibers, however, causes various serious illnesses, including cancer. Thus, most uses of asbestos are banned in many countries. Fiberglass or Synthetic Mineral Fibre has been found to be a suitable substitute for thermal insulation, and woven ceramic fiber performs as well as or better than asbestos as an insulator of high-temperature electrical conductors
