Why doesn't asbestos burn?

Answer 1

Asbestos does not burn because asbestos, like glass, is already oxidized, it cannot be further oxided by burning. The various compounds called asbestos are basically silicon dioxide, a compound of silicon and oxygen found in common beach sand.

Asbestos is a complex molecule called a silicate polymer; in its naturally occurring forms, silicon atoms are arranged in ladders or layers to create crystals..

Answer 2

Asbestos (a misapplication of Latin: asbestos "quicklime" from Greek ἄσβεστος: a, "not" and sbestos, "extinguishable") describes any of a group of minerals that can be fibrous, many of which are metamorphic and are hydrous magnesium silicates. These minerals, together with their occurrences, uses, and associated hazards, have been discussed in detail by Guthrie and Mossman (1993).

The name is derived for its historical use in lamp wicks; the resistance of asbestos to fire has long been exploited for a variety of purposes. Asbestos was used in fabrics such as Egyptian burial cloths and Charlemagne's tablecloth (which according to legend, he threw in a fire to clean). Asbestos occurs naturally in many forms (see below); it is mined from metamorphic rocks.

When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibers are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. Asbestos is used in brake shoes and gaskets for its heat resistance, and in the past was used on electric oven and hotplate wiring for its electrical insulation at elevated temperature, and in buildings for its flame-retardant and insulating properties, tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals. The inhalation of some kinds of asbestos fibers, however, can cause a number of serious illnesses, including cancer. Many uses of asbestos are banned in multiple countries.

...all the best.

Answer 3

Burning is fast oxidation. That is, combining the material (asbestos ) with oxygen. When paper is subjected to sunlight it slowly combines with oxygen and you will notice a yellowing with the years. That is slow oxidation. if you put a match to it it combines with oxygen much more quickly and of course sets alight and turns black. That is because the paper is made from cellulose , a plant product and is a carbohydrate , it is made from carbon hydrogen and oxygen . When it burns the hydrogen and oxygen combine and evaporate into the air . the black carbon is left behind.
Asbestos does not combine with oxygen even if subjected to very high temperatures . Thus it does not burn.

Answer 4

Silicate