ASTM D2132-03

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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An American National Standard
Designation: D2132 – 03
Standard Test Method for
Dust-and-Fog Tracking and Erosion Resistance of Electrical
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Insulating Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2132; 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 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method is intended to differentiate solid elec- 3.1 Definitions:
trical insulating materials with respect to their resistance to the 3.1.1 For definitions pertinent to this test method see Ter-
action of electric arcs produced by conduction through surface minology D1711.
films of a specified contaminant containing moisture. Test
4. Summary of Test Method
Methods D2302 and D2303 may also be used to evaluate
4.1 With electrodes mounted as shown in Fig. 1, coat test
materials.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are the standard, specimens with a synthetic dust and test in a chamber shown in
Fig. 2. Direct a water spray at the test specimen. After the
exceptincaseswhereSIunitsaremoreappropriate.Thevalues
in parentheses are for information only. surface has been wetted, apply a 60-Hz voltage between the
electrodes.Arcingoccursacrosslocalizedhigh-resistanceareas
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the produced by nonuniform evaporation of the water from the
contaminant. These arcs produce high temperatures in the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- underlying insulation with resultant carbonization of most
organic materials. The carbonization concentrates the electric
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
tionary statements are given in 11.4. field. Further carbonization may occur in the direction of the
field. In such cases, a carbon track is formed which spans the
NOTE 1—There is no equivalent ISO standard.
distance between the electrodes and causes failure. Materials
thatdonottrackmayerodeundertheactionofthearcing.Such
2. Referenced Documents
erosion usually progresses from an upper electrode through the
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
thickness of the specimen towards the underlying electrode.
D709 Specification for Laminated Thermosetting Materials
4.2 Rate materials that track in terms of the time required to
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
form a track between the electrodes.
D2302 Method of Test for Differential Wet Tracking Resis-
4.3 Rate materials that do not track in terms of the time
tance of Electrical Insulating Materials with Controlled
required to erode to failure.
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Water-to-Metal Discharges
4.4 Failure will be indicated when the current increases
D2303 Test Methods for Liquid-Contaminant, Inclined-
sufficiently to actuate an overcurrent device.
Plane Tracking and Erosion of Insulating Materials
NOTE 2—The conditions of this test favor the formation of a track for
several possible reasons. Most important, the continuous renewal of the
conductingpropertiesofthecontaminantbythewatersprayallowsatrack
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on
to grow progressively over long periods of time.
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D09.18 on Solid Insulations, Non-Metallic Shieldings and Coverings
5. Significance and Use
for Electrical and Telecommunication Wires and Cables.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2003. Published December 2003. Originally
5.1 Method—Electrical insulation in service may fail as a
approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D2132 – 98. DOI:
result of tracking, erosion, or a combination of both, if it is
10.1520/D2132-03.
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exposed to high relative humidity and contamination environ-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
ments. This is particularly true of organic insulations in
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
outdoor applications where the surface of the insulation be-
the ASTM website.
3 comes contaminated by deposits of moisture and dirt, for
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
on www.astm.org. example, coal dust or salt spray. This test method is an
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D2132 – 03
resistance to tracking-induced erosion.
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