WG 5 - TC 112/WG 5

IEC 60587:2022 describes two test methods for the evaluation of electrical insulating materials for use under severe ambient conditions at power frequencies (45 Hz to 65 Hz) by the evaluation of the resistance to tracking and erosion, using a liquid contaminant and inclined plane specimens. The two methods are:
- Method 1: test at constant voltage,
- Method 2: test at stepwise increased voltage.
Method 1 is the most widely used method as there is less need for continual inspection.
The test conditions are designed to accelerate the production of the effects, but do not reproduce all the conditions encountered in service.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) an improved description of the experimental methods has been implemented;
b) an improved description of the preparation of the test specimens has been implemented;
c) a more detailed description of the electrode material and of the electrode quality has been added;
d) evaluation criterion B (track length) has been removed for testing according to test method 2 (stepwise tracking voltage) as it is not applicable.

IEC TR 62039:2021(E) presents the important material properties of polymeric materials used in outdoor insulation and, where applicable, lists standardized test methods including minimum requirements. If no standardized tests are available, the test methods reported in literature are summarized.
This document is valid for insulating materials having polymeric insulation, which are used in outdoor high voltage electrical applications with a system voltage greater than 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC (several tests are only defined for alternating current, which are not applicable for direct current). Such applications are relevant where the housing is an integral part of the device, for example in surge arresters and cable terminations. The scope of this document is limited to the insulation materials only and is not generally intended for coating materials (coating materials are, for example, thin layers applied on toughened glass and ceramic). Some tests mentioned in this document are applicable for coating and are under consideration by CIGRE. The performance of insulators in service depends on several factors such as the type of material, the design and environmental conditions. Consequently, the choice of materials that fulfil the requirements listed in Table 1 is a necessary condition but does not guarantee satisfactory performance when used in outdoor insulation.

IEC 60112:2020 specifies the method of test for the determination of the proof and comparative tracking indices of solid insulating materials on pieces taken from parts of equipment and on plaques of material using alternating voltage. This document provides a procedure for the determination of erosion when required.
This test method evaluates the composition of the material as well as the surface of the material being evaluated. Both the composition and surface condition directly influence the results of the evaluation and are considered when using the results in material selection process.
Test results are not directly suitable for the evaluation of safe creepage distances when designing electrical apparatus.
This basic safety publication focusing on a safety test method is primarily intended for use by technical committees in the preparation of safety publications in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 and lSO/lEC Guide 51.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
Introduction of a new contaminant, solution C with a surfactant aligned with the test method of IEC 60587. The definition of the solution B was transferred to Annex B for backward reference.
Introduction of a screening test, considering the fact that some materials can withstand high test voltages, but fail at lower test voltages.
It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with IEC Guide 104.

IEC 60587:2007 describes two test methods for the evaluation of electrical insulating materials for use under severe ambient conditions at power frequencies (45 Hz to 65 Hz) by measurement of the resistance to tracking and erosion, using a liquid contaminant and inclined plane specimens. The two methods are as follows:
- Method 1: constant tracking voltage;
- Method 2: stepwise tracking voltage.
The main changes from the previous edition are as follows: experience has indicated the need for improved description of the experimental method. For the preparation of the test specimens abrasion is recommended only if necessary. The ventilation of the test chamber is described in detail. For specimens of soft elastomeric materials a mounting support is described. The maximum depth of erosion has to be reported in the classification.

Specifies the method of test for the determination of the proof and comparative tracking indices of solid insulating materials on pieces taken from parts of equipment and on plaques of material using alternating voltages. The standard provides for the determination of erosion when required. Test results cannot be used directly for the evaluation of safe creepage distances when designing electrical apparatus. Major changes since the previous edition are the following: The selection of a material for a specific application frequently involves compromises in the levels of the individual properties and test criteria. In the previous edition of IEC 60112 the test criteria required "no burning of the specimen", but this gave rise to two issues:
- difficulties in the identification of burning which includes all types of combustion, e.g. flaming, and smouldering in the situation where scintillations had occurred giving rise in many cases to carbon on the surface of the specimen, and
- a situation in which some product committees had found it necessary to dispense with the "no burning" criterion in the tracking tests which they replaced by flame tests on the final product, thereby giving rise to two types of CTI/PTI with different criteria.
The contents of the corrigenda of June 2003 and October 2003 have been included in this copy.

Describes a test method which can provide preliminary differentiation between similar insulating materials, with respect to their resistance to damage when exposed to high-voltage, low-current arc discharges, occurring close to their surfaces. Due to its convenience and the short time required for testing, the test method is applicable for preliminary screening of test materials, for detecting the effects of changes in formulation and for quality control testing.