Asbestos provides good insulation properties, high mechanical strength, chemical resistance and excellent thermal, fire and sound insulation properties and was inexpensive and in plenty-full supply. In the recent past the highest asbestos use came between the early 1960s to the late 1970s.
As well as being used in many building materials it has also been used in some unusual items such as cigarette tips, brake shoes, fire-proof suits, air filters in hospital ventilators and military gas mask filters to name but a few.