Westinghouse Electric — Micarta

Westinghouse Electric Corporation produced the Micarta™ brand of asbestos-reinforced phenolic-resin laminate during the asbestos era. Micarta was widely used in electrical insulation applications throughout Westinghouse’s manufacturing operations and was sold to industrial customers nationwide.

Asbestos use period

Westinghouse continued asbestos use in Micarta laminate through approximately 1980 — slightly later than most compound competitors due to the specialized electrical-insulation applications.

What Micarta is

Micarta is a layered laminate made from sheets of fabric, paper, or other reinforcement material impregnated with phenolic resin. During the asbestos era, asbestos cloth and asbestos paper were among the standard reinforcement materials used in Micarta production. The finished laminate combined the structural properties of phenolic resin with the thermal/electrical properties of asbestos reinforcement.

Plants

Westinghouse produced Micarta at multiple facilities. The specific plant locations and production timelines varied through the asbestos era and through subsequent corporate restructuring.

Litigation history

Westinghouse has been a named defendant in asbestos litigation including Micarta-exposure cases. The corporate successor (CBS Corporation / Viacom through later restructurings) is the active defendant for current Micarta-product claims.

Worker exposure pathways at Westinghouse Micarta plants

Workers at Westinghouse Micarta operations were exposed during raw asbestos cloth/paper handling, resin impregnation, lamination pressing, and finishing operations. Downstream users of Micarta sheet and rod stock experienced exposure during cutting, machining, drilling, and sanding operations at customer plants nationwide.

If you worked with this company’s asbestos-phenolic compounds

Worker exposure documentation typically includes: pay stubs and W-2s showing employment dates, union dispatch records (for union-shop members), social security earnings statements, and any company-issued product or material safety information you may have retained.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956

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References to manufacturers, products, and litigation history reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation, federal regulatory records, and industry archives. This information does not constitute a finding of fact or liability.