Asbestos was easy to mould and shape and the fibres could be compressed and wound into asbestos rope. There was generally three distinct types of asbestos rope, each of which had a different appearance and these included:
Twisted asbestos rope.
Square asbestos rope.
Asbestos lagging rope.
The twisted rope was made by twisted together several fibre strands which made it durable and dense. This type was commonly used for sealing and insulation. Square asbestos rope used a handful of fibres woven together to create a square shape and this was mainly used for heat insulation. Asbestos lagging was a dual-layered rope where the centre contained ceramic, and the outer layer was woven asbestos.
Asbestos rope was commonly used in the following applications:
1.Boiler insulation.
2.Pipe insulation.
3.Sealant in both automotive and heating systems.
4.Fireproofing seals in buildings.
5.Pump packing material to prevent leaks.
6.Seals and gaskets for some gas and electric heating appliances.