ASTM D1351-97

Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyethylene Insulation for Electrical Wire and Cable

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers a thermoplastic insulation which consists substantially of polyethylene.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1996
• ICS: 29.035.20 - Plastics and rubber insulating materials
• Technical Committee: D09 - Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D1351-02 - Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyethylene Insulation for Electrical Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 1351 – 97
Standard Specification for
Thermoplastic Polyethylene Insulation for Electrical Wire
and Cable
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1351; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 Refer to Terminology D 1711 for definitions pertinent
to this specification.
1.1 This specification covers a thermoplastic insulation
3.2 Definition of Term Specific to This Standard:
which consists substantially of polyethylene.
3.2.1 aging, n—exposure of materials to air at 100°C for 48
1.2 This type of insulation is considered suitable for con-
h.
tinuous operation for conductor temperatures up to 75°C with
a maximum conductor size of 1000 kcmil (507 mm ). The
4. Conductor Shields
maximum voltage rating shall not exceed 35 000 V for power
4.1 Use conductor shields on solid and stranded conductors
application or 9 000 V for series lighting.
of power cables having rated circuit voltages above 2000 V.
1.3 In many instances the insulation cannot be tested unless
This requirement does not apply to series lighting cables.
it has been formed around a conductor or cable. Therefore,
Conductor shielding is conducting material at least 0.0025 in.
tests done on insulated wire or cable in this document are
(0.06 mm) thick applied over the surface of the conductor. It
solely to determine the relevant property of the insulation and
may be conducting nonmetallic tape, conducting compound, or
not to test the insulated conductor or completed cable.
conducting cement.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are the standard,
except in cases where SI units are more appropriate. The values
5. Physical Properties
in parentheses are for information only.
5.1 The polyethylene, before application to the conductor,
shall comply with the requirements of Specification D 1248 for
2. Referenced Documents
Type I; Class A, B or C; Category 4 or 5; Grade E4 or E5. The
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 requirements of Specification D 1248 do not apply to the
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
insulation removed from the conductor.
D 1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
2 5.2 Insulation exposed to sunlight or weather requires
Extrusion Materials
3 Specification D 1248, Class C compound or suitable protective
D 1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
coverings. Class C compound shall meet the minimum absorp-
D 2308 Specification for Polyethylene Jacket for Electrical
3 tion coefficient requirement in Table 1.
Insulated Wire and Cable
5.3 Specimens removed from the wire or cable and tested at
D 2633 Methods of Testing Thermoplastic Insulations and
20 to 30°C (68 to 80°F) shall conform to the requirements for
Jackets for Wire and Cable
physical properties specified in Table 1. The insulation may be
D 3349 Test Method for Absorption Coefficient of Ethylene
air-oven aged without removal from the conductor.
Polymer Material Pigmented with Carbon Black
5.4 Thickness of Insulation—The minimum average insula-
2.2 ICEA Standard:
tion thickness shall be as specified in Table 2 or Table 3 of this
T-24-380 Guide for Partial-Discharge Procedure
specification. The minimum thickness shall be at least 90 % of
3. Terminology the specified minimum average thickness.
5.5 Absorption Coeffıcient—See Test Method D 3349. In-
3.1 Definitions:
stead of testing insulation removed from the conductor, a
certification by the manufacturer of the polyethylene com-
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-9 on
pound that the requirement has been complied with shall
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of
suffice.
Subcommittee D09.18 on Solid Insulations, Non-Metallic Shieldings and Coverings
for Electrical and Telecommunication Wires and Cables.
Current edition approved April 10, 1997. Published January 1998. Originally 6. Electrical Requirements
published as D 1351 – 54T. Last previous edition D 1351-90.
2 6.1 Order of Testing—Perform the partial discharge, ac
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
voltage, insulation resistance, and dc voltage tests in that order
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.02.
when any of these tests are specified. The sequence of other
Available from the Insulated Cable Engineers Association, P.O. Box 440, South
testing is not specified.
Yarmouth, MA 02664.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 1351
TABLE 1 Physical Properties of Compound
differs from 60°F, a correction factor must be applied. Table 1
of Test Methods D 2633 contains the correction factors. Each
insulation manufacturer can furnish the 1°F coefficient for their
Unaged Requirements:
Tensile strength, min, psi (MPa) 1400 (9.7)
insulation material by using the procedure given in Test
Elongation at rupture, min, % 350
Methods D 2633. Multiply the measured value by the correc-
Aged Requirements:
After air oven aging at 100 6 1°C for 48 h: tion factor to obtain the insulation resistance value corrected to
Tensile strength, min, psi (MPa) 1050 (7.3)
60°F.
Elongation at rupture, min, % 265
Absorption Coefficient, min, absorbance/mm 320 6.5 DC Voltage Test (Cables Rated at 5001 V and Above)—
Upon completion of the insulation resistance test, each length
of insulated power cable rated for service at 5001 V and over
6.2 Partial Discharge—When tested in accordance with
shall withstand for 15 min the dc test voltage given in Table 2
ICEA T-24-380, as modified in Test Methods D 2633, each
or Table 3.
length of completed shielded power cable rated for service at
6.6 DC Voltage Test (Cables Rated at 5000 V or Less)—
2001 V and above shall comply with the minimum partial
Upon completion of the insulation resistance test, each non-
discharge extinction level. See Test Methods D 2633.
shielded conductor rated up to 5000 V shall withstand for 5
6.3 AC Voltage Test—The insulated conductor shall with-
min the dc test voltage given in Table 2 or Table 3. Unless
stand the ac voltage specified in Table 2 or Table 3 for 5 min.
otherwise specified, this test may be omitted for nonshielded
Unless otherwise specified, this test may be omitted for
conductors rated up to 5000 V if the ac voltage test described
nonshielded conductors rated up to 5000 V if the dc voltage
in 6.3 has been performed.
test described in 6.6 is to be performed.
6.4 Insulation Resistance—The insulated conductor shall
7. Keywords
have an insulation-resistance value equal to or greater than that
corresponding to a constant of 50 000 at 60°F (15.6°C). When 7.1 cable; conductor; electrical; insulation; polyethylene;
the temperature of the water in which the insulation is tested thermoplastic; wire
D 1351
A
TABLE 2 Conductor Sizes, Insulation Thicknesses, and Test Voltages for Polyethylene-Insulated Power Cables
NOTE 1—Column A thicknesses (0 to 2000 V) are applicable to single-conductor power cables for general application when a black pigmented
insulation is used without a further covering.
NOTE 2—Column B thicknesses (0 to 2000 V) are applicable to multiple-conductor cables with an outer covering and to single-conductor cables with
an outer covering.
NOTE 3—To limit the maximum voltage stress on the insulation at the conductor to a safe value, the minimum size of the conductor shall be in
accordance with Table 2.
For cables or conditions of service where mechanical stresses govern, such as in submarine cables or long vertical risers, these minimum conductor
sizes may not be strong enough.
NOTE 4—Polyethylene insulation used on nonshielded cable without an outer covering s
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