ASTM D2308-07(2013)

Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyethylene Jacket for Electrical Wire and Cable

ABSTRACT
This specification covers a thermoplastic jacketing compound substantially consisting of pigmented polyethylene for use in electrical wires and cables with specified nominal thicknesses and operating at specified voltages. Since the jacket material cannot be tested unless it has been formed around a conductor or cable, tests shall then be done on jacketed wires and cables solely to determine the relevant property of the jacket material and not to test the jacketed conductor or completed cable. Materials shall be suitably sampled and tested, and shall conform accordingly to the following physical and electrical properties: unaged tensile strength and elongation at rupture; tensile strength and elongation at rupture after air oven aging; absorption coefficient; heat distortion; environmental stress-cracking; surface resistivity; and U-bend discharge.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers a thermoplastic jacketing compound for 2 to 35 kV wire and cable, of at least 0.030 in. (0.76 mm) nominal thickness, consisting substantially of pigmented polyethylene.  
1.2 In many instances the jacket material cannot be tested unless it has been formed around a conductor or cable. Therefore, tests done on jacketed wire and cable in this specification are solely to determine the relevant property of the jacket material and not to test the jacketed conductor or completed cable.  
1.3 Whenever two sets of values are presented, in different units, the values in the first set are the standard, while those in parentheses are for information only.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2013
• ICS: 29.035.20 - Plastics and rubber insulating materials
• Technical Committee: D09 - Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials
• Drafting Committee: D09.07 - Electrical Insulating Materials

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D2308 −07 (Reapproved 2013)
Standard Specification for
Thermoplastic Polyethylene Jacket for Electrical Wire and
1
Cable
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2308; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.2.1 aging, (act of), n—exposure of materials to air at 100
°C for either 24 or 48 h.
1.1 Thisspecificationcoversathermoplasticjacketingcom-
pound for 2 to 35 kVwire and cable, of at least 0.030 in. (0.76
4. Physical Properties
mm) nominal thickness, consisting substantially of pigmented
4.1 The polyethylene before application to the wire or cable
polyethylene.
shall comply with the requirements for Type I, Class C,
1.2 In many instances the jacket material cannot be tested
Category 4 or 5, Grade E5 or J3 of Specification D1248,or
unless it has been formed around a conductor or cable.
Class B with equivalent weathering requirements to Class C
Therefore, tests done on jacketed wire and cable in this
materials. The requirements of Specification D1248 shall not
specification are solely to determine the relevant property of
apply to the jacket removed from the wire or cable. The
the jacket material and not to test the jacketed conductor or
compound is suitable for exposure to sunlight and other
completed cable.
atmospheric environments at temperatures between −55
1.3 Whenever two sets of values are presented, in different
and+75 °C, and a minimum installation temperature of−40
units, the values in the first set are the standard, while those in
°C.
parentheses are for information only.
4.2 Specimensremovedfromthewireorcableandtestedat
20to28°C(68to82°F)shallconformtotherequirementsfor
2. Referenced Documents
physical properties specified in Table 1. Alternatively, the
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
jacket shall be air-oven aged without removal from the
D1248Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion
conductor.
Materials for Wire and Cable
4.3 Environmental Stress-Cracking Test—The jacket shall
D1693Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of
conform to the requirements for Grade E5 as specified in
Ethylene Plastics
Table3 of Specification D1248.
D1711Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
D2633Test Methods for Thermoplastic Insulations and 4.4 Absorption Coeffıcient—See Test Method D3349. In-
Jackets for Wire and Cable stead of testing the jacket removed from the conductors, a
D3349Test Method for Absorption Coefficient of Ethylene certification by the polyethylene compound manufacturer that
Polymer Material Pigmented with Carbon Black this requirement has been complied with shall suffice.
3. Terminology 5. Electrical Properties
3.1 Definitions: 5.1 The polyethylene jacket shall conform to the require-
3.1.1 Refer to Terminology D1711 for definitions of terms ments for electrical properties specified in Table 2.
used in this specification.
6. Sampling
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
6.1 Unless otherwise instructed, sample the jacket in accor-
dance with Test Methods D2633.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of
7. Test Methods
Subcommittee D09.07 on Electrical Insulating Materials.
Current edition approved March 1, 2013. Published March 2013. Originally
7.1 Unless otherwise instructed, test the jacket in accor-
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D2308–07. DOI:
dance with Test Methods D2633.
10.1520/D2308-07R13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
7.2 Environmental Stress-Cracking Test— Test in accor-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
dance with Test Method D1693, Condition A, using undiluted
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. Igepal CO 630 as specified in Specification D1248.
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D2308−07 (2013)
TABLE 1 Physical Properties
8.2 If any specimen fails to pass these tests, the length of
Unaged Requirements: cable from which the specimen was taken shall be considered
Tensile Strength, min, psi (MPa) 1400 (9.7)
as not meeting the requirements of this specification. Retest
Elongation at Rupture, min, % 350
new specimens from each of two other lengths of cable from
Aged Requirements:
After Air oven aging at 100±1°Cfor48h
the lot of cable under test. If either of the second specimens
(Grade E5) or 24 h (Grade J3):
f
...