Sculptor Revolutionizing Construction Industry With Alternative to Asbestos October 1, 2000

Working from her basement, Patricia Billings discovered a revolutionary new building material—and an alternative to asbestos--that is having a major impact on the construction industry and is being hailed for its environmental and safety properties.

Billings, chairman of the board and director of technology for GeoBond International Inc., spoke at a recent Polytechnic Leadership Seminar. The leadership seminars, sponsored by the Offices of Development and Alumni Relations, offer Polytechnic students the insights and business experiences of successful alumni and friends of Poly.

Billings, an amateur sculptor, recounted how she experimented for years in her basement with various construction compounds, chemicals and household ingredients, trying to develop a durable and easily sculpted material. In 1994, she discovered that a mixture of cement, gypsum and several secret ingredients formed a durable fireproof compound that is being hailed as a superior nontoxic alternative to asbestos.

The multi-purpose compound-called GeoBond-can be textured to look like cork, slate or marble and has been made into stucco, roof tiles and insulation as well as a compound to repair concrete and patch highways.

Billings, who is critical of the building trades industry, urged students to be ethical in their academic and professional endeavors. "Corporate America needs to clean up its act," she said. "The labeling on building materials for home construction is often erroneous and the materials can be dangerous."