Document YvqnY0QLN5go0RooQ7BKYZw8

#t -jt/- 77 Ql1 MONSANTO INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS CO. 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard Si. Louis. Missouri 63166 Phone. <314) 694-1000 January 26, 1977 'JAN 27 1977 --SPECIAL! Y CHEMICALS DIVISION Mr. Larry Zimmerman . Senior Buyer Westinghouse Electric Corporation P. 0. Box 341 Bloomington, Indiana 47401 Dear Mr. Zimmerman: We were surprised to learn of a recent "rumor" in the power capacitor industry associating AROCLOR 1016 quality with capacitor failure. You will recall that when Monsanto introduced AR0CL0R 1016 in 1970/71 to replace AROCLOR 1242, electrical - and purity speci fications were maintained. A small change occurred in certain physical parameters such as refractive index, specific gravity by virtue of the reduction in high boiling homologues to improve biodegradation. Monsanto has manufactured and sold AROCLOR 1016 to a rigidly established product specification since August 1971 and has adhered to a quality control policy of shipping only product which is within these specifications. Also, it has been our practice to send our customers a certificate of quality for each AROCLOR 1016 shipment. Further, we understand that it is the procedure of our capacitor customers to sample incoming shipments and to compare their data against our specification and the certificate of quality provided by Monsanto. In 1975 one power capacitor manufacturer speculated that since AROCLOR 1016 was used in common by all U.S. producers, that it should be considered as a possible variable in examining industry failure rates. However, review of control procedures seemed to satisfy them that variability of AROCLOR 1016 was not a factor. We have received no comment suggesting that there was any inherent property of AROCLOR 1016 which would promote capacitor failure. Trademark of Monsanto Company DSW 283379.29 a uml of Monsanto Company STLCOPCB4064737 t Mr. Larry Zimmerman -2- January 26, 1977 In the absence of industry reports to us over the past five years of problems associated with AROCLOR 1016 we are surprised ' and puzzled by current reported allegations concerning our product quality. We would like to reassure you that we will continue, through our phaseout of PCB dielectrics, to manufacture and ship AROCLOR 1016 within our rigidly controlled specifications. tme 'p1. Wood Market Manager Process and Specialties DSW 283379.30 STLCOPCB4064738