title: High-alumina low-silica HT stone wool fibers: a chemical compositional range with high biosolubility.
abstract: Man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) are classified within the European Union (EU) as carcinogenic category 3 (possibly carcinogenic), but criteria exist to exonerate fibers from this classification. The HT stone wool fiber type is a MMVF that fulfills European regulatory requirements for exoneration from classification as a carcinogen based on in vivo testing. The chemical composition of the fibers and the results of the in vivo and in vitro studies that defined the chemical compositional range for a CAS registry number for these fibers are presented and discussed. Results from in vitro dissolution measurements at pH 4.5 of 52 fiber compositions (9-23 wt% Al(2)O(3) and 32-47 wt% SiO(2)) ranging from traditional stone wool to the biosoluble HT fibers are presented. The results are evaluated as a function of the ratio Al/(Al+Si) in the glass network and as a function of the fraction of Si-O-Si linkages in the glass. It is suggested that the dissolution mechanism for these fibers relates to the density of the surface silica layer on dissolving fibers and that the fraction of Si-O-Si linkages influences this.
authors.affiliation: Rockwool International A/S, DK-2640 Hedehusene, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guldberg
authors.forename: Søren Lund
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steenberg
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kamstrup
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D005062:European Union; D005898:Glass; D006207:Half-Life; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000032:analysis*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D019016:Mineral Fibers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide