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As far back as 2500, BC, asbestos was first recorded to be in use in Finland. There it was apparently mixed with clay to create ceramic pots and utensils. In ancient Greece, it was first mentioned in a book written by Theophrastus, titled, ‘On Stones.’ In this text, the author described a mineral that looked like ‘rotting wood’ that did not burn when doused with oil and set on fire.
The Greeks used to make common lamp wicks and other fireproof products from asbestos because of its fire retardant abilities. In fact the word we use today, asbestos, comes from the Greek word, asbestinon, which means unquenchable. It’s mentioned in Pliny’s work Natural History around 60 A.D.
We find asbestos use in the medieval ages. It was used in the padding of the medieval armor. Throughout history, it’s been used for various products but it only found widespread use in the 1800s. The first patent for an asbestos product was issued in 1828. It was for a special lining of steam train engines. In 1868, a patent for a roofing material containing asbestos was issued. This roofing material was highly regarded for its durability and fire resistance.
Around this same time, large deposits of asbestos were discovered in Quebec, Canada. This discovery jumpstarted the development of many asbestos products. It wasn’t long before asbestos could be found in: gaskets, fireproof safes, bearings, electrical wiring insulation, building materials, and even children’s toys.
By the 1900s many of the technological advances were made by the addition of asbestos. Plastics now contained asbestos fibers to increase their heat resistance. The automotive industry embraced asbestos use and soon it was found in tires, brakes and clutch linings.
At the same time, asbestos became commonplace in the building industry with roofing tiles starting the trend. At that time, asbestos could be found in plumbing pipes, textured paint, vinyl tiles, ceiling tiles and insulation.
This material is still used today for very specialized tasks. Its primary use is in the shielding for the space shuttle and in the insulation for the solid fuel boosters. This is one of only a couple remaining legal uses of asbestos in the US.