Document reaQGNg2dX83edOkY6QnkxdaG

I/f MONSANTO CHEMICALS LIMITED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RUABON WIO559 Information Centre (4) J.W. Barratt, London. R.A. Baxtetr/R.I.C. P.G. Benidius, St. Louis. J.G. Bryant, St. Louis. P. Macdonald, Newport. ,, A.F. Regan, Newport. P.J.A. Marsh/A. Arpino/J.N. Haggart, Brussels. H.A. Vodden, Ruabon. C.G. Wickham/M.F. Clarke, London. G. Mitreau, Paris. Group File. INDUSTRIAL CONTACT REPORT Dates 5.10.70. Visit to: Les Condensateurs "SIC-SAFCO" 91 to 107, Rue Bellvue, 92 - Colombes (Near Paris). Present: M. Rene Amlitte - SIC-SAFCO. M. G. Mitreau - Monsanto France. Mr. C.R. Coleman - MCL. Subject; Aroclor and capacitors. SUMMARY: During an interview which lasted about 2 hours, M. Amlitte (Service Approvisionnements) answered many questions about his firm. He was wellinformed, having previously been employed in a technical department. Details. SIC-SAFCO is the largest capacitor manufacturer in France. It was formed in 1962 from the merger of two firms with the same activity. They have four plants. Power factor correction capacitors form 25$ of their turnover and the remaining 75$ covers small capacitors for fluorescent lighting, radio and T.V., of which they make 5 to 4 million each month. They use about 2 tonnes of askarel per week for a.c. capacitors, all this comes from Prodelec. Power factor correction capacitors for EDF at present come from three manufacturers: Alsthom, SIC-SAFCO and Haefely. Amlitte said that in future Haefely may withdraw from supplying EDF. These capacitors are rated lOOkVAr, 8.7kV. ' DSW 234336 STLCOPCB4053887 They use both Pyralene 1499 and. 1500, according to the type of capacitor. There is not much difference in price between these products (less than 10$). The choice is made because there are compatibility problems with 1500 and presspahn. Pyralene 1500 is compatible with polypropylene film. They use 'Superad' and do not formulate their own scavengers. The life test for additives lasts 10,000 hours. For d.c. capacitors they use both oil and askarel. He mentioned the l$,ck of competition in France from askarel suppliers. He said that Montecatini had previously sent 1 drum which he had had tested and found satisfactory, but later Montecatini had refused to deliver any more, so the test-work was wasted. They do not use fluorocarbon impregnants. Some time ago they made 30,000 capacitors for the US Air-Force, using silicone impregnant which was imported from USA, but they have not used any since. " They also make electrolytic capacitors (Electrochemical?) formulating their own impregnant (possibly under licence). . Amlitte was much more interested in talking about plastics films than he was about impregnants. They have not yet used polypropylene film and at present use paper, Mylar and polycarbonate. For fluorescent lighting capacitors they use metallized Mylar with a minimum thickness of 5 microns and an aluminium coating of 0.2 micron. If they changed completely to polypropylene film, they would use 5 tonnes/month. This change will take place in about 2 years. Prior to 1948-9 they metallized film themselves, but subsequently they sold the plant to an independent specialist firm from whom they now buy the metallized film (M.V.A., 99 Nauterre, 245 Av. G. Clemenceau - J. Faure). Prodelec are now metallizing Mylar but in the future they will metallize polypropylene film as well. 'Difal' is their brandname' for aluminium metallized polycarbonate film. Amlitte was very proud about the successful development by SIC-SAFC0 of internal fuses for askarel impregnated paper capacitors for power factor correction. These capacitors range in size from 1 to 50 kVAr and are installed in batteries. Some are 30 years old. CRC/bjo'g. 22.10.70. COLIN R, COLEMAN, DS\W 234337 STLCOPCB4053888