ASTM D3555-20

Standard Specification for Track-Resistant Crosslinked Polyethylene Insulation for Wire and Cable, 90 °C Operation

ABSTRACT
This specification covers track-resistant black crosslinked polyethylene insulation for conducting wires and cables operating continuously at a specified conductor temperature. The insulation is suitable for use for power transmission in overhead spaced-line service that is exposed to sunlight and other atmospheric environments. The prescribed tests cannot be performed unless the insulation is formed around a conductor, but these are done solely to determine the insulation properties and not to test the conductor or completed cable. Each test sample should be subjected to an ac or dc voltage withstand test at voltages that are based on the nominal thickness of the insulation and should comply with the required values for aging, heat distortion, cold blend, U-bend discharge, track resistance, tensile strength, elongation at rupture, track resistance, and surface resistivity.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers a track-resistant crosslinked polyethylene insulation, the base polymer which consists substantially of polyethylene or its copolymers. This insulation shall be carbon black pigmented, or colored and suitably protected to enable UV stability.  
1.2 This type of insulation is considered suitable for use on wire or cable that will be used for continuous operation at conductor temperatures up to 90 °C.  
1.3 This insulation is suitable for use on wire or in cable used for power transmission in overhead spaced-line service, installed at temperatures above −25° and exposed to sunlight and other atmospheric environments between −55 and +90 °C.  
1.4 In many instances, the insulation cannot be tested unless it has been formed around a conductor. Therefore, tests done on insulated wire in this standard are solely to determine the relevant property of the insulation and not to test the conductor or completed cable.  
1.5 Whenever two sets of values are presented, in different units, the values in the first set are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2020
• 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:D3555 −20
Standard Specification for
Track-Resistant Crosslinked Polyethylene Insulation for
1
Wire and Cable, 90 °C Operation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3555; 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* 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This specification covers a track-resistant crosslinked 2.1 ASTM Standards:
polyethylene insulation, the base polymer which consists D470Test Methods for Crosslinked Insulations and Jackets
substantiallyofpolyethyleneoritscopolymers.Thisinsulation for Wire and Cable
shall be carbon black pigmented, or colored and suitably D1711Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
protected to enable UV stability. D2132Test Method for Dust-and-Fog Tracking and Erosion
Resistance of Electrical Insulating Materials
1.2 This type of insulation is considered suitable for use on
D2765Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and
wire or cable that will be used for continuous operation at
Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics
conductor temperatures up to 90 °C.
2.2 ICEA Standard:
1.3 This insulation is suitable for use on wire or in cable
ICEAT-28-562Test Method for Measurement of Hot Creep
3
used for power transmission in overhead spaced-line service,
of Polymeric Insulations
installed at temperatures above −25° and exposed to sunlight
3. Terminology
and other atmospheric environments between −55 and +90 °C.
1.4 Inmanyinstances,theinsulationcannotbetestedunless 3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Fordefinitionsoftermsusedinthisspecification,refer
ithasbeenformedaroundaconductor.Therefore,testsdoneon
to Terminology D1711.
insulated wire in this standard are solely to determine the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
relevantpropertyoftheinsulationandnottotesttheconductor
3.2.1 aging, (act of), n—exposure of materials to air at a
or completed cable.
temperature of 121 °C for 168 h.
1.5 Whenever two sets of values are presented, in different
units, the values in the first set are to be regarded as standard.
4. Physical Properties
The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions
4.1 When tested for physical and aging requirements, heat
that are provided for information only and are not considered
distortion,coldbend,U-benddischarge,surfaceresistivity,and
standard.
track resistance in accordance with Test Methods D470, the
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
track-resistant black crosslinked polyethylene insulation shall
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
meet the requirements specified in Table 1.The insulation is to
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
meet the requirements for percent hot creep and hot set
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
specified in Table 1. The test is to be performed in accordance
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
with ICEA T-28-562. Only in case of dispute, the solvent
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
extraction (gel content and swell ratio) test in Test Methods
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Subcommittee D09.07 on Electrical Insulating Materials. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2020. Published September 2020. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D3555–07(2018). Available from The Insulated Cable Engineers Association, Inc. (ICEA), P.O.
DOI: 10.1520/D3555-20. Box 1568, Carrollton, GA 30112, http://www.icea.net.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D3555−20
TABLE 1 Physical Requirements for Track-Resistant Black
Crosslinked Polyethylene Insulation
Physical requirements (unaged):
Tensile strength, min, psi (MPa) 1800 (12.4)
Elongation at rupture, min, % 250
Physical requirements
(after aging in an air oven at 121±1°Cfor 168 h):
Tensile strength, min, % of unaged value 75
Elongation at rupture, min, % of unaged value 75
Heat distortion at 121±1°C, max, % of unaged thickness:
2
4/0 AWG (107 mm ) and smaller (insulation on cable) 30
2
Larger than 4/0 AWG (107 mm ) (buffed sample of 15
i
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D3555 − 07 (Reapproved 2018) D3555 − 20
Standard Specification for
Track-Resistant Black Crosslinked Polyethylene Insulation
1
for Wire and Cable, 90 °C Operation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3555; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This specification covers a track-resistant black crosslinked polyethylene insulation, the base polymer which consists
substantially of polyethylene or its copolymers. This insulation shall be carbon black pigmented. pigmented, or colored and
suitably protected to enable UV stability.
1.2 This type of insulation is considered suitable for use on wire or cable that will be used for continuous operation at conductor
temperatures up to 90 °C.
1.3 This insulation is suitable for use on wire or in cable used for power transmission in overhead spaced-line service, installed
at temperatures above −25° and exposed to sunlight and other atmospheric environments between −55 and +90 °C.
1.4 In many instances, the insulation cannot be tested unless it has been formed around a conductor. Therefore, tests done on
insulated wire in this standard are solely to determine the relevant property of the insulation and not to test the conductor or
completed cable.
1.5 Whenever two sets of values are presented, in different units, the values in the first set are the standard, while those first set
are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.mathematical conversions that are provided
for information only and are not considered standard.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D470 Test Methods for Crosslinked Insulations and Jackets for Wire and Cable
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
D2132 Test Method for Dust-and-Fog Tracking and Erosion Resistance of Electrical Insulating Materials
D2765 Test Methods for Determination of Gel Content and Swell Ratio of Crosslinked Ethylene Plastics
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D09.07 on Electrical Insulating Materials.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018Aug. 1, 2020. Published November 2018September 2020. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 20132018
as D3555 – 07 (2013).(2018). DOI: 10.1520/D3555-07R1810.1520/D3555-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D3555 − 20
2.2 ICEA Standard:
3
ICEA T-28-562 Test Method for Measurement of Hot Creep of Polymeric Insulations
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this specification, refer to Terminology D1711.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 aging, (act of), n—exposure of materials to air at a temperature of 121 °C for 168 h.
4. Physical Properties
4.1 When tested for physical and aging requirements, heat distortion, cold bend, U-bend discharge, surface resistivity, and track
resistance in accordance with Test Methods D470, the track-resistant black crosslinked polyethylene insulation shall meet the
requirements specified in Table 1. The insulation is to meet the requirements for percent hot creep and hot set specified in Table
1. The test is to be performed in accordance with ICEA T-28-562. Only in case of dispute, the solvent extraction (gel content and
swell ratio) test in Test Methods D2765 is to be the referee method. The extractables, after a drying time of 20 h, shall be no more
than 30 %.
5. Electrical Requirements
5.1 Subject cabl
...