Republic Powdered Metals manufactured asbestos roofing and sealing products in addition to its Bondex products that contained asbestos. Facing asbestos litigation, the company chose to file for bankruptcy in 2010. The Bondex Trust was funded with nearly $800 million and began processing claims in 2016.
Written by D. Carl Money | Scientifically Reviewed by Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited by Walter Pacheco | Last Update:
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Bondex International, a subsidiary of Republic Powdered Metals, filed for bankruptcy on May 31, 2010, after facing more than 20,000 asbestos lawsuits. In 2014, Republic Powdered Metals joined the proceedings and contributed $797.5 million to the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust to compensate people exposed to asbestos from its products. The trust began handling claims on July 1, 2016.
Republic Powdered Metals Asbestos Trust Updates
Claimants must show evidence of exposure to Bondex products and a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease. The Bondex Trust can fast-track claims for people in urgent need. Claimants who are terminally ill with an asbestos-related disease or facing severe financial hardship may qualify for quicker review and payment. The trust evaluates medical records and financial circumstances to ensure the claim meets the criteria before processing it.
A mesothelioma lawyer helps those exposed to Republic Powdered Metals’ Bondex joint compounds. They will review construction records, verify medical diagnoses and submit claims to the Bondex Asbestos Trust. Counsel ensures applications align with the trust’s 29.5% payment rate on mesothelioma scheduled values for timely processing.
Drywallers and painters often applied materials from different asbestos manufacturers across projects, so lawyers analyze complete career paths to identify supplementary claims. These frequently encompass mesothelioma lawsuits versus nonbankrupt entities, workers’ compensation settlements or occupational health programs.
Patient Advocates match asbestos-affected individuals to attorneys proficient in Bondex cases for customized guidance. They additionally schedule expert evaluations, negotiate coverage hurdles, facilitate VA filings and direct to wellness programs plus economic relief during care.
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
Get Help NowRepublic Powdered Metals first faced an asbestos lawsuit over Bondex products in 1980. From then until 1999, it paid a total of $1.6 million in claims. Costs rose sharply in the early 2000s, when the company spent between $43 million and $82.5 million each year on asbestos liabilities.
The spike in lawsuits reflected the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma and other illnesses can take 20 to 60 years to develop, which means people exposed before the company stopped making asbestos products were only beginning to show symptoms.
Most lawsuits stemmed from Reardon Company’s Bondex line. By 2010, Republic Powdered Metals reported more than 20,000 asbestos lawsuits tied to Reardon’s products, with the majority filed in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Maryland, Illinois and Ohio.
In one case, a Texas painter received an $11 million verdict after developing mesothelioma. Of the 4 asbestos companies named in the case, Republic Powdered Metals was the only defendant that refused a settlement. The trial judge found it partially responsible for the worker’s illness.
The company began using asbestos after it acquired the Reardon Company in 1966. Reardon’s Bondex line included roofing products, joint compounds, coatings and adhesives. Republic Powdered Metals added asbestos to strengthen materials and improve heat resistance, which helped prevent industrial accidents and fires.
The company sold these asbestos products until the early 1980s. Workers who manufactured, installed or handled these products faced serious asbestos exposure risks. Breathing asbestos fibers could cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and other organs. Exposure occurred in manufacturing facilities, construction sites and during maintenance or demolition work.
Frank Sullivan founded the company in 1947 to make Alumanation, a protective coating. The company later added waterproofing and rustproofing products and expanded its business through acquisitions, including the Reardon Company.
Today, Republic Powdered Metals operates as RPM International Inc., a global manufacturer of coatings, sealants and specialty chemicals. RPM International produces products for roofing, restoration and industrial applications under brands such as Rust-Oleum, Tremco and Carboline. As of 2025, it runs more than 140 facilities worldwide.
Employees who produced these products faced the highest levels of risk. Workers who handled or applied them on the job were also at significant risk of asbestos exposure.
Higher Risk Jobs
Workers in these roles often faced daily exposure to asbestos dust, which greatly increased their chances of developing diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Many later filed lawsuits to hold Republic Powdered Metals accountable.
For decades, Republic Powdered Metals supplied a range of building and industrial materials that were later found to contain asbestos. These products put both construction workers and home renovators at risk of asbestos exposure.
Republic Powdered Metals Products That Contained Asbestos
Homeowners who used Republic Powdered Metals’ products were also at risk. The danger of exposure was generally lower for asbestos-containing textured coatings such as Dramex Texture Paint. But other products posed higher risks. One example is Bondex All-Purpose Joint Compound, which contained chrysotile asbestos and was widely used by do-it-yourself homeowners.
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Asbestos.com. (2026, January 13). Republic Powdered Metals Trust Fund and Lawsuits. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/companies/republic-powdered-metals/
"Republic Powdered Metals Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Asbestos.com, 13 Jan 2026, https://www.asbestos.com/companies/republic-powdered-metals/.
Asbestos.com. "Republic Powdered Metals Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Last modified January 13, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/republic-powdered-metals/.
An occupational scientist or another expert who specializes in occupational hazards reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current scientific standards and accuracy.
Sean Fitzgerald, PG, is a research geologist specializing in asbestos environmental studies.
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