Document byk0q9YwGgDXdQEnOMJbOqo06

Monsanto I .... *.> , N A ' " St. Louis - General Office DA', * *-.i* ;i V 1 r Nt> October 23, 1967 GENERAL ELECTRIC, ROME, GA. TRANSFORMER PYRANOL TO H. S. Bergen - HBERG G. R. Buchanan J. Cresce - J CRES H. C. Carder - HOARD D. S. Hosmer - DHOSM E. S. Robson - EROBS L. Fuhrmeister - ANNISTON 49cssBRtKnHs^liinn6it<f||aMISi&CSOND'vS "TREEr Dr. W. R. Richard - WRICH J. D. Wright/R. Hamil - ATLANTA Present for General Electric: Mr. John Dutton, Manager Transformer Design Mr. James Kinney, Technologist Present for Monsanto: Dr. Ralph H. Munch R. C. Hamil - ATLANTA P. G. Benignus THE PRESENT S ITUATION Order an Askarel transformer (or a mineral oil unit) from General Electric or Westinghouse today, and you can't get it for about one year. These people are loaded, not hungry for business, not willing to make design change or do testing or anything else that would delay production, at this time. They now push Askarel over dry type only because they make a reasonable profit from Askarel and the small transformer makers knocked the profit out of dry type. POSSIBLE WIDER FUTURE APPLICATION Possible future applications at higher voltage and DC will require better scientific understanding of these conditions on Askarel. Westinghouse interest in this is limited to their seeking Monsanto to supply the funds to do some work at Sharon, Pennsylvania. However, Westinghouse knowledge and understanding of the limitations of Askarels for high voltage applications is less extensive than General Electric's. Our further discussions with General Electric confirm our wisdom in not allowing ourselves involve ment with the Westinghouse proposal for a substantial amount of our earnings to support studies at Sharon that would not solve the fundamental problem, as indicated by proprietary General Electric data that explored areas not brought out by Westinghouse. DSW 233511 STLCOPCB4053858 2- - General Electric's greater understanding of the technology which indicates little possible success for Askarel at high voltage, precludes their interest in further testing work which is very expensive. Dr. Munch will write the more detailed report of this and how it affects what may be featxble for us to do. AROCLOR 1242 General Electric, Pittsfield, looked on use of straight Aroclor 1242 with apprehension over low-temperature start-up, especially of railroad transformers. While not ruled out at Rome, they will not proceed without seeing significant advantage. They are having trouble getting enough tritetrachlorobenzene from Hooker. DRUM S TORAGE General Electric, Rome, Georgia, stored Pyranol drums outdoors, without protection from rain, notwithstanding our warnings. They water-contaminated several truck loads of drums which had to be revorked. Recently, to develop inventory, Anniston is storing a 1. 5 year supply of Aroclor in drums outdoors, without protection from rain. This invites moisture contamination, rusting, and corrosion problems, which may cause an expensive rework job. SECOND SUPPLY SOURCE Anniston is the sole reliable source of biphenyl for askarels in the U. S. A. Our District Sales people expressed strong concern that Monsanto has over instilled confidence in our customers regards ability to handle in event Anniston was down. Attention has been called to this periodically. /ecd P. G. Benignus DSW 233512 STLCOPCB4053859