Abstract
The effect of wetting agents on the penetration of water into asbestos insulations has been investigated in a laboratory test. The insulations behaved like porous bodies with water. The addition of a wetting agent generally caused no change or reduction in the rate of wetting. Only amosite-calcium silicate showed improved wetting with some surfactants, possibly because of a very high contact angle with water. Use of heated water, at 60°C, resulted in a significant but moderate increase in wetting rate for all insulations and is considered the most effective practical aid to wetting.