Long ago, after a dinner party, a French king surprised his friends by throwing the dirty tablecloth into the fire. They were even more surprised when the tablecloth did not burn. Instead of burning, it was cleaned !
It seemed like magic, but it wasn't. The tablecloth was made of asbestos. And asbestos is a mineral that will not burn.
Asbestos isn't just one mineral. It comes from several different kinds of minerals that can be split up into threads. Most asbestos is found in layers between rock. Its silky threads look like white hair growing on the rock.
Cloth made from asbestor thread is used in many ways that help keep fires from starting. Pipes that carry hot steam, the insides of stoves and furnaces, and other things that get dangerously hot are often covered with asbestos. It is also used to protect things from fire. Firemen can go right into burning buildings when wearing suits made of asbestos cloth.
It seemed like magic, but it wasn't. The tablecloth was made of asbestos. And asbestos is a mineral that will not burn.
Asbestos isn't just one mineral. It comes from several different kinds of minerals that can be split up into threads. Most asbestos is found in layers between rock. Its silky threads look like white hair growing on the rock.
Cloth made from asbestor thread is used in many ways that help keep fires from starting. Pipes that carry hot steam, the insides of stoves and furnaces, and other things that get dangerously hot are often covered with asbestos. It is also used to protect things from fire. Firemen can go right into burning buildings when wearing suits made of asbestos cloth.
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