Document kmoX4kkJe1n3RK8LVw4NVDZbJ

TENNECO CHEMICALS, INC. A Motor Component of Ttnnoeo, Inc Mr. Gordon Rozand Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. Tenneco Plastics Division P. U. Box 2 Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 ^ . r- v 3U ^ '\0 TENNECO MANUFACTURING COMPANY Post Office Bo* 849 Pasadena, Texas 77501 May 4, 1967 Dear Gordon: Subject: Polymerization in VCM Tank Cars The recent partial polymerization in tank car NATX review possible sources of polymerization. As you know, oup^procedHre has been to sample returning cars which showed no pressure^Sr less thany300 pounds heel for oxygen content in the vapor space, tffxygen contenf^of all loaded cars is determined, and no car leaves the Pasadeo-PiairEwith oxygen exceeding 0.1 volume per cent oxygen. After the recent NATX 17144 incident, data on 244 cars returned this year was reviewed. The data, attached, show that about 16% of the returning cars contained oxygen, independent' of their returning condition. The relatively large percentage of returning cars which was found to contain oxygen in spite of having pressure and/or heel indicates that there may be occasional irregularities in unloading procedures, such as pulling a vacuum on the car in error and then back-filling to provide a heel and/or pressure. To insure against recurrence of polymerization, it is recommended that: x. Tenneco Manufacturing sample all returning cars for oxygen before and after loading. As in the past, no cars will be shipped containing more than 0.1% oxygen in the vapor. 2. Tenneco Plastics sample all cars received for oxygen before and after unloading. 3. The return heel weight be increased from 300 pounds to 800 pounds. Very truly yours, TENNECO MANUFACTURING COMPANY DRK:wtn Attachment cc: Dr. F. L. Padgitt Mr. A1 Sllverberg D. R. Keck Vice President-Manufacturing COLORITE 005961 SUMMARY OF VCM TANK CAR CONDITION Car Condition Pressure 300 Lb. Heel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes No Yes No No No No Number of Cars ,18 101 1A 79 3 7 5 18 2AA Oxveen Found Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No % bv Groupins 15 85 15 85 30 70 22 78 Total cars with oxygen - AO or 16,AZ t COLORITE 005962