ASTM D4731-93(1998)

Designation: D 4731 – 93 (Reapproved 1998) An American National Standard
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
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Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Specification for
Hot-Application Filling Compounds for Telecommunications
Wire and Cable
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4731; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 3895 Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Poly-
olefins by Differential Scanning Colorimetry
1.1 This specification covers a variety of petroleum-based
D 3954 Test Method for Dropping Point of Waxes
and other compounds used for filling the air spaces in telecom-
D 4565 Test Methods for Physical and Environmental Per-
munications wires and cables (both electrical and fiber optic)
formance Properties of Insulations and Jackets for Tele-
for the purpose of preventing water and other undesirable fluids
communications Wire and Cable
from entering or migrating through the cable structure. (For
D 4568 Test Methods for Evaluating Compatibility Be-
related standards see Specifications D 4730 and D 4732).
tween Cable Filling and Flooding Compounds and Poly-
1.2 A hot-application compound is a material that requires
olefin Wire and Cable Materials
melting in order to be applied as a liquid and its melting point
D 4730 Specification for Flooding Compounds for Tele-
may affect its performance in the finished cable product.
communications Wire and Cable
1.3 The values stated in SI units are the standard.
D 4732 Specification for Cool-Application Filling Com-
2. Referenced Documents
pounds for Telecommunications Wire and Cable
D 4872 Test Method for Dielectric Testing of Wire and
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Cable Filling Compounds
D 6 Test Method for Loss on Heating of Oil and Asphaltic
Compounds
3. Terminology
D 92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
3.1 Description of Terms Specific to This Standard
Open Cup
3 3.2 filling material—any of several materials used to fill the
D 97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Oils
air spaces in the cores of multi-conductor insulated wires and
D 127 Test Method for Drop Melting Point of Petroleum
cables, or between buffer tubes covering optical fibers, or
Wax Including Petrolatum
within such buffer tubes, or any combination of these configu-
D 150 Test Methods for A-C Loss Characteristics and
rations and any other cable components, for the purpose of
Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insu-
excluding water and other undesirable fluids; especially with
lating Materials
regard to telecommunications wire and cable, including optical
D 257 Test Methods for D-C Resistance or Conductance of
cable, intended for outside aerial, buried, or underground
Insulating Materials
installations.
D 445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
3.3 producer—the primary manufacturer of the material.
and Opaque Liquids (and the Calculation of Dynamic
3.4 suppliers—jobbers and distributors as distinct from
Viscosity)
producers.
D 938 Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum
Waxes, Including Petrolatum
4. Classification
D 1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Prod-
3 4.1 Two basic types of filling compounds are covered, as
ucts (ASTM Color Scale)
follows:
D 2161 Practice for Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity to
3 4.1.1 Type I—General-purpose filling compounds include
Saybolt Universal Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Viscosity
all materials to be used for filling cables that are not required
to function under electrical stress (for example, all dielectric
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-9 on
fiber-optic cable), including filling compounds for fiber-optic
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of
loose buffer tubes.
Subcommittee D09.18 on Solid Insulations, Non-Metallic Shieldings and Coverings
for Electrical and Telecommunications Wires and Cables. Subcommittee D02.10 4.1.2 Type II—Electrical-type filling compounds include
contributed in the development of this standard.
materials having prescribed electrical properties and are used
Current edition approved July 15, 1993. Published October 1993. Originally
published as D 4731 – 87.
2 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.04. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
3 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.04.
4 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.02.
D 4731
for filling wires and cables that are required to function fully or this specification shall meet the following requirements:
partially under electrical stress (including hybrid fiber-optic 9.1.1 Homogeneity—The compound shall be homogeneous
cable).
and free of agglomerates.
9.1.2 Color and Opacity—The compound shall be as nearly
5. Ordering Information
colorless as is commercially feasible, consistent with the
5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
requirements of the end products for which the filling com-
the following information:
pound is intended. In general, identification of cable members
5.1.1 Quantity (mass or volume) of each item,
coated with filling compound shall not be significantly inhib-
5.1.2 Generic name of the material, such as hot-application
ited because of filling-compound color or opacity.
cable filling material,
9.1.3 Color Stability—After aging a specimen of filling
5.1.3 Type of material: Type I, General Purpose or Type II,
compound in a suitable container for a period of 120 6 1h(5
Electrical,
days) at a temperature of 266°F (130°C) in a static air oven,
5.1.4 How Furnished: drums or barrels, tank cars or tank
measure the compound color in accordance with Test Method
trucks, and the like,
D 1500. Unless otherwise specified, the color of the aged
5.1.5 Certification, if required (Section 13).
compound shall not exceed 2.5.
5.1.6 This specification designation, and
9.1.4 Foreign Material—The compounds shall be free of
5.1.7 Any special requirements, as listed in 7.2 and 9.2 and
dirt, metallic particles, and other foreign matter.
in Sections 10 and 11, that apply.
9.2 Other Properties—Other property requirements such as
Flash Point (for example, Test Method D 92), Volatility (for
6. Materials and Manufacture
example, Test Method D 6), high-temperature drip/oil separa-
6.1 The material and manufacturing methods used shall be
tion (syneresis) in the raw material state, thermal oxidative
such that the resulting products will conform to the properties
stability (for example, testing similar to Test Method D 3895),
and characteristics prescribed in this specification.
and the like shall be as agreed upon between the producer and
7. Chemical Composition the purchaser. (Additional information on oil separation is
given in the appendix of this specification.)
7.1 The chemical composition of these materials is not
specified. The material may be of any chemical composition
NOTE 1—If Test Method D 6 is referenced, a test cycle of 22 h at 107°C
suitable for the intended purpose and that meets the require-
(225°F) is recommended in lieu of the 163°C (325°F) temperature
required by Test Method D 6.
ments of this specification as hereinafter stated.
7.2 When agreed upon between the producer and the pur-
10. Temperature Characteristics
chaser, antioxidant stabilizing additives may be included in the
compound formulation to assure specified results in thermal
10.1 Raw material temperature characteristics, if needed,
oxidative stability testing. may be specified by use of pour point (for example, Test
7.3 Once established, the producer shall not change the
Method D 97), drop-melting point (for example, Test Method
composition of the compound in successive lots of material D 127), viscosity (for example, Test Method D 445 and Prac-
without prior approval of the purchaser. tice D 2161), congealing point (for example, Test Method
D 938), drop point (for example, Test Method D 3954), or as
8. Electrical Properties
otherwise agreed upon between the producer and the purchaser.
8.1 When a Type II (electrical) filling compound is speci-
NOTE 2—Although
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