[Milsurplus] PCB's, was Carborundum -R's

[Richard Brunner]

Re:
> With that said, PCB oil has been one of the best transformer
> oils ever made and my understanding is it has been difficult for the
> industry to develop a substitute which worked equally well under
> all conditions. 
> >
> > The concern about PCBs and Askarel oil is pointless and
> unsubstantiated BS.

Reality is, PCB (Askeral) has one virtue, it will not support
combustion.  Thus, it was used only in transformers installed in mines
and buildings where fire was a serious hazard. (burning oil!)  Askarel
use was never widespread because it was significantly more expensive
than mineral oil.  This worry that every can of oil is a PCB is silly.
Askarel also has a higher dielectric constant than mineral oil, and was
used in some oil-paper capacitors to get more capacitance in the can,
and apparently was cost effective.  I spent some years designing
transformers, and Askarel use was never frivolous.  It was also too
expensive to throw away. 


Askarels have been studied to death, and people who were up to their
elbows in it for decades are healthier than people on the street.  Right
or wrong, the environmentalists won.  I think it was mostly about
punishing GE for being successful.

Richard, AA1P