Document 3JNkL8O0b7z5M4Z3dM5D49BmJ

Telephone 01-743 1212 Telegrams - Bicalserch London Telex Telex 23463 tt> 0 ic c Central Research & Engineering Division 38 WOOD LANE LONDON W12 Mr. P.G. Benignus, Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Co., 800, N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63166, U.S.A. Yournef Our ref EHR Telephone ext 3rd June, 1974. Dear Paul, It is some time since I had the opportunity of corresponding with you and I am hoping that in the interim you have continued to enjoy your usual robust health and technical and commercially successful career. I recall from your last visit that you mentioned to me the possibility of Monsanto, in conjunction with the Borne Chemical Company, becoming suppliers of DDB for cable installa tions, in particular for Consolidated Edison. In so doing, you also mentioned the recent spate of failures of oil-filled supertension cables in Brazil, especially in Rio and Sao Paulo, due to the use of poor quality oils. You mentioned that Pirelli were looking for a solution to the problem there and that this might include replacement of all natural petro leum saturants by synthetics such as DDB or DNB. We, of course, have sources of supply of both these synthetic alkyl benzenes in the UK, but I am particularly interested to have any further information you can give me regard ing the three major questions, as follows:- 1. Are Monsanto (U.S. ) now supplying DDB for oilfilled cables used by Consolidated Edison and, if so, which particular designs of cables are involved and which alkyl benzenes are proving to be of interest? 2. What is the latest position in Brazil and have Pirelli succeeded in converting the cable circuits there by replacing petroleum oils with alkyl benzenes? SW 207672 STLCOPCB4059739 2. 3. 6. 74. 3. Have you any other information on oil-filled cable failures in South America which could definitely be attributed to the poor performance of oils derived from petroleum? I presume that you are considering attending the CIGRE meeting in Paris at the end of August and I hope that you will decide to travel and, if so, you will let me know approximately which dates and where you are staying. I hope to be there from August 22nd to the 30th. Looking forward to seeing you. Yours sincerely. E.H. Reynolds General Manager DS\N 201673 STLCOPCB4059740