Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (a joint venture of PPG Industries and Corning Inc.), manufactured Unibestos — an asbestos pipe insulation product notable for its use of amosite (brown) asbestos as the primary fiber component rather than the more common chrysotile (white) asbestos. Amosite asbestos — a fiber type associated with higher rates of mesothelioma in exposed populations than chrysotile — was incorporated in Unibestos due to its superior heat resistance for high-temperature steam insulation applications. Unibestos pipe insulation was specified for Navy steam plant applications and appeared throughout the US Navy’s surface ship fleet in the WWII through early-1970s era.

Unibestos and Amosite Asbestos

Pittsburgh Corning’s use of amosite asbestos in Unibestos distinguishes this product:

  • Amosite asbestos composition — Unibestos pipe insulation used amosite (brown) asbestos as the primary fiber component in its insulation matrix. Amosite fiber is recognized in the scientific and medical literature as carrying a higher risk of mesothelioma per unit exposure than chrysotile fiber. Navy engineering ratings who installed, maintained, and removed Unibestos insulation accumulated exposure to amosite fibers throughout their contact with this product
  • Pipe insulation application — Unibestos was supplied as pre-formed pipe covering sections for standard pipe sizes, cut to length and applied over steam piping in Navy engineering spaces. The pre-formed sections had to be cut for fittings and ends, releasing amosite fiber at each cut edge during installation
  • Deteriorated Unibestos removal — engineering ratings removing aged or damaged Unibestos insulation from steam piping during maintenance or repair operations disturbed heavily friable asbestos pipe covering, with deteriorated Unibestos generating significant amosite fiber during removal from pipe surfaces

Unibestos appeared throughout Navy steam plant pipe insulation:

  • Main steam system piping — the main steam piping from boilers to propulsion turbines in Navy surface ships of the WWII and Cold War era used Unibestos and competitor asbestos pipe covering products for the high-temperature steam insulation requirements of main steam service
  • Feedwater and extraction steam piping — the intermediate-temperature feedwater and extraction steam piping serving the pre-heating stages of the Navy propulsion steam cycle used asbestos pipe covering including Unibestos in appropriate temperature grades

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Pittsburgh Corning Products

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Engineering ratings who installed, maintained, or removed Pittsburgh Corning Unibestos amosite pipe insulation in Navy steam plant applications and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits. The amosite asbestos content of Unibestos is a specific and documented exposure pathway with particular relevance to mesothelioma claims.