SIST EN 50290-2-38:2016

Communication cables - Part 2-38: Common design rules and construction - Polypropylene insulation for coaxial cables

This Part 2-38 of EN 50290 gives specific requirements for PP compounds to be used for the insulation of coaxial cables. It is to be read in conjunction with EN 50290-2-20, EN 50117 and other applicable product standards.  Grades PP-S1 and PP-F1 correspond to materials specified in the previous version 50290 2-25. These relatively soft Polypropylene compounds have good low temperature properties and are highly stabilised. Grades PP-S2 and PP-F2 exhibit properties more typical of Polypropylene and are designed for general Coax applications where high crush resistance and superior dielectric properties are needed. Using raw material and type test data as outlined in this standard, the raw material supplier will have sufficient data to demonstrate compliance and warrant that the material is suitable for the specified application.

Kommunikationskabel - Teil 2-38: Gemeinsame Regeln für Entwicklung und Konstruktion - Polypropylen-Isoliermischungen für Koaxialkabel

Dieser Teil 2-38 der EN 50290 legt spezifische Anforderungen für PP-Isoliermischungen für die Isolation von Koaxialkabeln fest. Er ist zusammen mit EN 50290 2 20 und mit EN 50117 sowie mit anderen zutreffenden Produktnormen zu lesen. Die Sorten PP-S1 und PP-F1 entsprechen den Werkstoffen, die in der Vorgängerversion 50290 2-25 festgelegt sind. Diese relativ weichen PP-Mischungen haben gute Eigenschaften bei tiefen Temperaturen und sind hochstabilisiert Die Sorten PP-S2 und PP-F2 zeigen Eigenschaften, die eher typisch für Polypropylen sind und die für allgemeine koaxiale Anwendungen konzipiert sind, wo hohe Druckfestigkeit und hervorragende dielektrische Eigenschaften erforderlich sind. Die Verwendung der Prüfwerte der Rohstoffe und der Daten von Typprüfungen wie in dieser Norm beschrieben, stellt dem Lieferanten der Rohstoffe ausreichende Daten zur Verfügung, um die Nachweise der Übereinstimmung mit den Anforderungen zu erbringen und um zu garantieren, dass das Material für die festgelegte Anwendung geeignet ist.

Câbles de communication - Partie 2-38: Règles de conception communes et construction - Polypropylene pour enveloppes isolantes pour câbles coaxiaux

Komunikacijski kabli - 2-38. del: Skupna pravila načtovanja in konstrukcija - Polipropilenska izolacija za koaksialne kable

Ta 2-38. del standarda EN 50290 določa posebne zahteve za polipropilenske (PP) zmesi, ki se uporabljajo za izolacijo koaksialnih kablov. Standard se uporablja v povezavi s standardoma EN 50290-2-20 in EN 50117 ter drugimi veljavnimi standardi za izdelke.
Razreda PP-S1 in PP-F1 vključujeta materiale, ki so navedeni v prejšnji različici standarda 50290 2-25. Te relativno mehke polipropilenske zmesi se dobro obnesejo pri nizkih temperaturah in so zelo stabilne.
Razreda PP-S2 in PP-F2 združujeta lastnosti, ki so značilnejše za polipropilen, ter sta zasnovana za splošno koaksialno uporabo, kjer se zahtevajo visoka odpornost proti zmečkanju in izjemne dielektrične lastnosti.
Z uporabo podatkov o surovini in tipskem preskušanju, kot je opisano v tem standardu, bo imel dobavitelj surovin dovolj podatkov, da dokaže skladnost in jamči, da je material ustrezen za opredeljeno uporabo.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 31-Jan-2014
• Publication Date: 23-May-2016
• ICS: 29.035.20 - Plastics and rubber insulating materials
• ICS: 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 18-May-2016
• Due Date: 23-Jul-2016
• Completion Date: 24-May-2016
• Mandate: M/212 - ICT - metallic and optical cables and cabling systems
• Ref Project: EN 50290-2-38:2016 - Communication cables - Part 2-38: Common design rules and construction - Polypropylene insulation for coaxial cables

Overview

EN 50290-2-38:2016 - Communication cables (Part 2-38) specifies polypropylene (PP) insulation requirements for coaxial cables. Published by CLC/CENELEC, this standard defines raw‑material and cable test data, acceptance limits and performance expectations for solid and foamed PP compounds used as coaxial cable insulation. It is intended to be read alongside EN 50290-2-20, EN 50117 and other product/test standards.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Requirements for PP compounds for coaxial insulation, covering both solid and foam constructions and common cable designs.
• Material grades: Defines four compound grades - PP-S1, PP-F1, PP-S2, PP-F2 - with S1/F1 being softer, low‑temperature–stabilised compounds and S2/F2 optimized for crush resistance and dielectric performance.
• Raw material testing: Tests are performed on granules or moulded plaques. Suppliers must provide physical, mechanical and thermal data.
• Physical properties (examples from tables):
  • Density ≤ 0.915 g/cm3 (median)
  • Shore D hardness: >62 (PP-S1/PP-F1) or >67 (PP-S2/PP-F2)
  • Melt flow rate (MFR/MVR): recorded per EN ISO 1133
  • Oxidative Induction Time (OIT, 200 °C): >30 min for S1/F1, >15 min for S2/F2
• Dielectric properties:
  • Dielectric constant ≤ 2.27 at ~1 MHz
  • Dissipation factor targets: <0.00030 or <0.00008 at specified frequencies
  • High‑frequency checks (e.g., up to ~1.9 GHz) where applicable
• Cable‑level tests and limits:
  • Maximum rated cable temperatures: typically 90 °C (S1/F1) or 70 °C (S2/F2)
  • Low‑temperature bending: performance at −30 °C or −15 °C depending on grade
  • Thermal ageing (Arrhenius‑based): specified temperatures and durations; post‑ageing mechanical requirements
  • Shrinkage ≤ 5 %, strip force > 5 N
• Health, safety and environmental (HSE): Materials must meet HSE requirements per EN 50290-2-20; suppliers must disclose deviations.

Applications and practical value

• Material selection and qualification: Use EN 50290-2-38:2016 to qualify PP compounds for coaxial cable insulation in consumer, broadcast, RF and telecommunications coax cable products.
• Supplier verification: Raw material suppliers provide standardized test data to demonstrate compliance and suitability for specified cable designs.
• Design and R&D: Cable designers use grade definitions (PP‑S/F series) to balance low‑temperature flexibility, dielectric loss, crush resistance and processing (solid vs foam).
• Testing and QA: Test labs and cable manufacturers apply the referenced test methods for acceptance, type testing and batch verification.

Who should use this standard

• Cable manufacturers and designers
• Polymer/compound suppliers
• Test laboratories and quality engineers
• Product compliance and procurement teams

Related standards

• EN 50290-2-20 (general cable material design rules)
• EN 50117 (coaxial cables)
• EN 50289 / EN 60811 series (test methods)
• EN 60754-2 (combustion by‑products testing)

Keywords: EN 50290-2-38:2016, polypropylene insulation, coaxial cables, PP-S1, PP-F1, dielectric properties, thermal ageing, cable design, raw material requirements.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2016
.RPXQLNDFLMVNLNDEOLGHO6NXSQDSUDYLODQDþWRYDQMDLQNRQVWUXNFLMD
3ROLSURSLOHQVNDL]RODFLMD]DNRDNVLDOQHNDEOH
Communication cables - Part 2-38: Common design rules and construction -
Polypropylene insulation for coaxial cables
Kommunikationskabel - Teil 2-38: Gemeinsame Regeln für Entwicklung und Konstruktion
- Polypropylen-Isoliermischungen für Koaxialkabel
Câbles de communication - Partie 2-38: Règles de conception communes et construction
- Polypropylene pour enveloppes isolantes pour câbles coaxiaux
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50290-2-38:2016
ICS:
29.035.20 3ODVWLþQLLQJXPHQLL]RODFLMVNL Plastics and rubber insulating
PDWHULDOL materials
33.120.10 Koaksialni kabli. Valovodi Coaxial cables. Waveguides
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 50290-2-38
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2016
ICS 29.035.20; 33.120.10
English Version
Communication cables - Part 2-38: Common design rules and
construction - Polypropylene insulation for coaxial cables
Câbles de communication - Partie 2-38: Règles de Kommunikationskabel - Teil 2-38: Gemeinsame Regeln für
conception communes et construction - Polypropylene pour Entwicklung und Konstruktion - Polypropylen-
enveloppes isolantes pour câbles coaxiaux Isoliermischungen für Koaxialkabel
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2016-03-14. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any
alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 50290-2-38:2016 E
Contents
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Raw material requirements . 5
4 Cable test requirements . 5
5 Health, safety and environmental regulations . 5
Bibliography . 8

European foreword
This document (EN 50290-2-38:2016) has been prepared by CLC/TC 46X “Communication cables”.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) 2017-03-14
implemented at national level by publication
of an identical national standard or by
endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards (dow) 2019-03-14
conflicting with this document have to
be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European Commission and
the European Free Trade Association.
1 Scope
This Part 2-38 of EN 50290 gives specific requirements for Polypropylene (PP) compounds to be used for the
insulation of coaxial cables. It is to be read in conjunction with EN 50290-2-20, EN 50117 and other
applicable product standards.
Grades PP-S1 and PP-F1 correspond to materials specified in the previous version 50290-2-25. These
relatively soft Polypropylene compounds have good low temperature properties and are highly stabilized.
Grades PP-S2 and PP-F2 exhibit properties more typical of Polypropylene and are designed for general Coax
applications where high crush resistance and superior dielectric properties are needed.
Using raw material and type test data as outlined in this standard, the raw material supplier will have sufficient
data to demonstrate compliance and warrant that the material is suitable for the specified application.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 50289-3-17, Communication cables - Specifications for test methods - Part 3-17: Mechanical test
methods - Adhesion of dielectric and sheath
EN 50289-3-9, Communication cables - Specifications for test methods - Part 3-9: Mechanical test methods -
Bending tests
EN 60216 (all parts), Electrical insulating materials – Thermal endurance properties (IEC 60216)
EN 60811-401, Electric and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials - Part 401:
Miscellaneous tests - Thermal ageing methods - Ageing in an air oven (IEC 60811-401)
EN 60811-501, Electric and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials - Part 501:
Mechanical tests - Tests for determining the mechanical properties of insulating and sheathing compounds
(IEC 60811-501)
EN 60811-502, Electric and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials - Part 502:
Mechanical tests - Shrinkag
...