Unarco Industries — the asbestos products division of Union Carbide Corporation — was one of the largest producers of asbestos-containing insulation products in the United States, manufacturing asbestos pipe covering, asbestos block insulation, asbestos cement, and related asbestos-containing building and insulation products. Union Carbide’s asbestos operations, conducted through Unarco and related subsidiaries, supplied asbestos-containing insulation materials to the industrial, commercial, and marine markets including US Navy shipbuilding and ship repair applications. Unarco asbestos products appeared in the Navy’s pipe covering specification materials alongside other major brand pipe covering suppliers.

Unarco Asbestos Products in Navy Applications

Unarco produced asbestos-containing insulation products used in Navy applications:

  • Asbestos magnesia pipe covering — Unarco manufactured 85% magnesia pipe covering using asbestos fiber as the binder material in the magnesia block insulation. Unarco magnesia pipe covering applied to steam system piping in Navy ships and shore installations provided the primary pipe insulation on hot steam lines, with MM and BT ratings performing removal and reinstallation of the pipe covering at each pipe maintenance interval
  • Asbestos block insulation — Unarco produced asbestos block and asbestos-containing sectional insulation used on irregular-shaped steam equipment and fittings where standard pipe covering sections could not be directly applied. The block insulation was cut to shape and applied to valve bodies, flanges, and curved piping sections by insulators and engineering ratings
  • Asbestos cement — Unarco asbestos cement — used as a finishing coat over pipe covering and block insulation to provide a smooth, hard surface — contained asbestos fiber that was released during mixing and application of the cement compound

Union Carbide Asbestos Mining Operations

Union Carbide operated asbestos mines and processing facilities:

  • Union Carbide/Unarco’s asbestos supply chain included domestic asbestos mining operations and asbestos fiber processing that provided the raw material for Unarco’s insulation product line. The company’s asbestos operations made it one of the key suppliers to the Navy’s pipe insulation specification during the period of peak Navy asbestos specification

VA Claims

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from pipe covering and insulation maintenance in Navy service. Engineering ratings who performed maintenance on Unarco and other brand asbestos pipe covering in Navy ships and shore facilities and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.