ASTM D2301-24

Standard Specification for Vinyl Chloride Plastic Pressure-Sensitive Electrical Insulating Tape

ABSTRACT
This specification covers electrical insulating tape consisting of a flexible backing made from vinyl chloride plastic coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The tape shall be classified according to thickness: Type I and Type II. The backing shall be polyvinyl chloride plastic suitably compounded to meet the requirements of this specification. The backing shall be smooth and uniform. The selection of rolls, conditioning, and testing shall be in accordance with the specified requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers electrical insulating tape consisting of a flexible backing made from vinyl chloride plastic coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.  
1.3 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: Published
• Publication Date: 29-Feb-2024
• ICS: 29.035.20 - Plastics and rubber insulating materials
• Technical Committee: D09 - Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials
• Drafting Committee: D09.07 - Electrical Insulating Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D2301-10(2017) - Standard Specification for Vinyl Chloride Plastic Pressure-Sensitive Electrical Insulating Tape
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2024
• Refers: ASTM D1711-24 - Standard Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2024
• Refers: ASTM D1711-22 - Standard Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2022
• Referred By: ASTM E96/E96M-23 - Standard Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2024

Overview

ASTM D2301-24 - Standard Specification for Vinyl Chloride Plastic Pressure-Sensitive Electrical Insulating Tape outlines the requirements for electrical insulating tapes made from vinyl chloride plastics. This standard specifies properties for tapes with a flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) backing coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, designed for electrical insulation and related applications. Developed by ASTM International, this specification ensures safety, reliability, and performance consistency for both manufacturers and end-users worldwide.

Key Topics

• Materials and Construction

  • The tape features a smooth, uniform polyvinyl chloride (PVC) backing with a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to one side.
  • Black plastic is the standard backing color, though other opaque and transparent colors can be provided upon request.

• Types and Classification

  • Type I: General-purpose tape with a nominal thickness of 0.18 mm (0.007 in).
  • Type II: General-purpose tape with a nominal thickness of 0.25 mm (0.010 in).

• Performance Requirements

  • The tape must meet strict requirements for thickness, width, breaking strength, elongation, adhesion to steel and backing, dielectric breakdown voltage, high-humidity insulation resistance, flagging resistance, and flammability.
  • Performance values are specified using SI units as standard, with imperial units provided for reference.

• Packaging and Marking

  • Packaging must protect rolls from damage and prevent them from adhering to each other or the container.
  • Packages are clearly marked with manufacturer name, ASTM specification number, tape type, thickness, width, and length.

• Testing and Quality Assurance

  • Conditioning and testing of tape rolls are to be performed according to referenced ASTM methods to ensure consistency and reliability.
  • Non-conforming lots are subject to further sampling and potential rejection.

Applications

Vinyl chloride plastic pressure-sensitive electrical insulating tape compliant with ASTM D2301-24 offers trusted performance for a variety of uses, including:

• Electrical Industry

  • Primary and secondary insulation for wire splices, terminations, and connections in electrical wiring.
  • Bundling, identification, and phase marking in electrical installations.
  • Temporary wrapping and harnessing of wires and cables.

• Construction and Maintenance

  • Insulating minor repairs in building electrical systems.
  • Providing protection where flame-retardant and moisture resistance properties are required.

• Manufacturing

  • Used in the assembly of electronic devices and appliances requiring electrical insulation tape that conforms to international standards.
  • Suitable for maintenance and repair operations across multiple sectors.

Related Standards

For comprehensive compliance and best practices, ASTM D2301-24 should be considered alongside relevant industry standards:

• ASTM D1000 - Test Methods for Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive-Coated Tapes Used for Electrical and Electronic Applications
• ASTM D1711 - Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation

These standards support consistent terminology and reliable test procedures, ensuring the vinyl chloride plastic electrical tape meets high-performance expectations in demanding environments.

---

Keywords: electrical insulating tape, vinyl chloride plastic tape, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, ASTM standards, PVC tape, electrical insulation, quality assurance, international standards, tape for electrical applications

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: D2301 − 24
Standard Specification for
Vinyl Chloride Plastic Pressure-Sensitive Electrical
Insulating Tape
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2301; 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 5. Materials and Manufacture
1.1 This specification covers electrical insulating tape con- 5.1 The backing shall be polyvinyl chloride plastic suitably
sisting of a flexible backing made from vinyl chloride plastic compounded to meet the requirements of this specification.
coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The backing shall be smooth and uniform. The tape edges shall
be straight and unbroken.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are the standard. The values
given in parentheses are provided for information purposes 5.2 The pressure-sensitive adhesive coating shall be smooth
and uniform and as free from lumps and bare spots as the best
only.
commercial practice will permit. There shall be no adhesive
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
transfer when the tape is unwound from the roll.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 5.3 Black plastic backing shall be considered standard.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- Other colors, opaque or transparent, are acceptable when
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical specified.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
6. Requirements
6.1 The tape shall meet the requirements given in Table 1
2. Referenced Documents
for the type specified.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1000 Test Methods for Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive-
7. Standard Rolls
Coated Tapes Used for Electrical and Electronic Applica-
7.1 The standard widths and lengths shall be selected from
tions
the following:
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
7.1.1 Widths:
mm in. mm in.
3. Terminology
1 7
6 ⁄4 22 ⁄8
9 ⁄8 25 1
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms in this
1 1
12 ⁄2 30 1 ⁄4
specification, refer to Terminology D1711.
5 1
15 ⁄8 38 1 ⁄2
19 ⁄4 50 2
4. Classification
7.1.1.1 Widths greater than 50 mm (2 in.) shall be agreed
upon between the purchaser and the seller.
4.1 This specification covers two types as follows:
7.1.2 Lengths:
4.1.1 Type I—General-purpose tape, nominal thickness 0.18
mm (0.007 in.).
m ft
6 20
4.1.2 Type II—General-purpose tape, nominal thickness
20 66
0.25 mm (0.010 in.).
33 108
7.1.2.1 Additional lengths shall be agreed upon between the
purchaser and seller.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of
8. Test Methods
Subcommittee D09.07 on Electrical Insulating Materials.
8.1 The selection of rolls, conditioning, and testing shall be
Current edition approved March 1, 2024. Published March 2024. Originally
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D2301 – 10 (2017).
in accordance with Test Methods D1000.
DOI: 10.1520/D2301-24.
For
...

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: D2301 − 10 (Reapproved 2017) D2301 − 24
Standard Specification for
Vinyl Chloride Plastic Pressure-Sensitive Electrical
Insulating Tape
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2301; 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 electrical insulating tape consisting of a flexible backing made from vinyl chloride plastic coated on
one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.
1.3 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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1000 Test Methods for Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive-Coated Tapes Used for Electrical and Electronic Applications
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms in this specification, refer to Terminology D1711.
4. Classification
4.1 This specification covers two types as follows:
4.1.1 Type I—General-purpose tape, nominal thickness 0.18 mm (0.007 in.).
4.1.2 Type II—General-purpose tape, nominal thickness 0.25 mm (0.010 in.).
5. Materials and Manufacture
5.1 The backing shall be polyvinyl chloride plastic suitably compounded to meet the requirements of this specification. The
backing shall be smooth and uniform. The tape edges shall be straight and unbroken.
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 Feb. 15, 2017March 1, 2024. Published February 2017March 2024. Originally approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 20102017
as D2301 – 10.D2301 – 10 (2017). DOI: 10.1520/D2301-10R17.10.1520/D2301-24.
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
D2301 − 24
5.2 The pressure-sensitive adhesive coating shall be smooth and uniform and as free from lumps and bare spots as the best
commercial practice will permit. There shall be no adhesive transfer when the tape is unwound from the roll.
5.3 Black plastic backing shall be considered standard. Other colors, opaque or transparent, are acceptable when specified.
6. Requirements
6.1 The tape shall meet the requirements given in Table 1 for the type specified.
7. Standard Rolls
7.1 The standard widths and lengths shall be selected from the following:
7.1.1 Widths:
mm in. mm in.
1 7
6 ⁄4 22 ⁄8
9 ⁄8 25 1
1 1
12 ⁄2 30
...