Many asbestos minerals are part of the serpentine group of hydrated silicates and the asbestiform minerals have a structural resemblance to the serpentine minerals. Although the serpentine minerals are physically fibrous, they are layered silicates.

Serpentine minerals will expel structural water (hydroxyl groups) at between 700 and 800°C. However, this reaction is slow even at much higher temperatures. This slow reaction coupled with the superior insulating properties of the fibrous forms (asbestos) make them particularly difficult to destroy thermally. Without the presence of fluxing agents, conversion can take nearly two hours even at temperatures as high as 1200°C in particles as small as five (5) centimetres in diameter. Larger particles take longer due to slow heat transfer.

By introducing sodium and boron to asbestos in a concentrated aqueous solution (the fluxing solution), homogenous intimate contact between the cations and asbestos fibres can be attained. The absorbent nature of friable and asbestos cement products assists in the rapid delivery of the fluxing solution to asbestos fibres.

When asbestos waste saturated with the fluxing solution is heated, water evaporates leaving behind sodium and boron. As the temperature continues to rise, the introduced cations become increasingly reactive. At a temperature of approximately 1200°C these cations will react rapidly with other ions in the asbestos fibrils. This reaction takes place quickly resulting in the expulsion of hydroxyl groups, collapse of the hydrated layer and destruction of fibrous morphology.

The result is the formation of new volcanic-type minerals including olivine, wollastonite, diopside, other pyroxenes depending upon the chemistry of the feed, and small amounts of glass where partial melting is initiated. The reactions take place without significant melting of the material (and thus without having to overcome the heat of fusion).

The accelerated destruction of asbestos materials is brought about by the presence of the fluxing agent in the presence of heat. All asbestos waste subjected to nominal operating conditions resulted in end product that was 100% asbestos-free (non-detectable using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction and optical analytical methods).