this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2025
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It's a shame some of these elements are so toxic. I mean lead paint became popular for a reason, it's a great paint! If not for the toxicity.
I once met an old fighter pilot who let me play with his asbestos glove. I held burning coals in my hand! It was the most amazing material I've ever felt. Blew my mind, an almost perfect insulator. But of course we know asbestos to be awful stuff.
Makes me wonder if modern materials engineering could make asbestos safe? It's either not financially viable or the fear of asbestos is too great for society.
Most asbestos is safe, until you need to dispose of it. You could make a glove that is encased in another material so you get the insulation with no health hazard, but once it gets worn or thrown in a landfill it will be a problem.
That's fair. I know it's the particulates in the lungs that make it unsafe. It would need special disposal facilities. Economically unviable.
I would say the production process would be a problem too