Electrical insulation askarel

Askarel A general term for a group of nonflammable, synthetic, chlorinated, aromatic hydrocarbons used as electrical insulating media. 

Monsanto s commercial PCB fluids were manufactured under the "Aro-clor trade name. Three of these pure PCB fluids were used as capacitor Askarels, where Askarel is a generic name for synthetic, nonflammable, chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon type electrical insulating fluids. As will be shown later, the various Aroclors can be defined in terms of their approximate compositions by isomer group. 

Many recent fires involving polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are raising more and more concern in the general population, to the workers and firemen. The most important problem is fires of electrical equipment insulated with either "pure" PCB, or PCB mixed with other solvents like the tri- and tetrachlorobenzenes, often present in the askarels. A related problem less serious but arousing a lot of worries is the electrical equipment insulated with mineral oils contaminated with PCB (from concentration of a few ppm to more than 500 ppm). We estimate that approximately 10 % of the transformers in service insulated with oil are contaminated with more than 50 ppm. 

Major fires of electrical equipment insulated with askarels... 

For our judgement, the replacement of the electrical equipment insulated with askarel is the best of the safety measures. It should be of the highest priority in the areas where the risk of contamination is high. 

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