ASTM D6054-97

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An American National Standard
Designation: D 6054 – 97
Standard Practice for
Conditioning Electrical Insulating Materials for Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6054; 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 3.1.2.1 Discussion—Where closer tolerances on atmo-
spheric conditions are required,6 1°C on temperature or 62%
1.1 This practice covers procedures for conditioning elec-
on relative humidity, or both, may be specified.
trical insulating materials (although not necessarily to equilib-
3.1.3 standard laboratory temperature, n— a temperature
rium) prior to testing and the conditions under which they shall
of 23 6 2°C.
be tested. In general the physical and electrical properties of
3.1.4 For definitions of other terms relating to electrical
electrical insulating materials are influenced by temperature
insulating materials, refer to Terminology D 1711.
and relative humidity in a manner that materially affects test
results. In order that reliable comparisons may be made of
4. Significance and Use
different materials and between different laboratories, it is
4.1 Conditioning of specimens may be undertaken: (1) for
necessary to standardize the humidity and temperature condi-
the purpose of bringing the material into equilibrium with
tions to which specimens of these materials are subjected prior
normal or average room conditions; (2) simply to obtain
to and during testing.
reproducible results; or (3) to subject the material to abnormal
1.2 This practice is similar to Practice D 618.
conditions of temperature or humidity in order to predict its
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
service behavior. However, it is not within the scope of this
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
practice to define procedures for determining aging character-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
istics of electrical insulating materials.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 The conditioning procedures prescribed in this practice
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
are designed to obtain reproducible results and may give values
2. Referenced Documents somewhat different from values under equilibrium at normal
conditions, depending upon the particular material and test. To
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 ensure substantial equilibrium under normal conditions of
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
humidity and temperature, however, may require many days or
D 709 Specification for Laminated Thermosetting Materi-
3 weeks depending upon thickness and type of material and its
als
previous history. Consequently, conditioning for reproducibil-
D 1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
ity must of necessity be used for general purchase and product
D 5032 Practice for Maintaining Constant Relative Humid-
control tests.
ity by Means of Aqueous Glycerin Solutions
4.3 Any reference to this practice must include the informa-
3. Terminology
tion needed for designating the conditioning procedure (and
testing procedure, if applicable), as defined in Section 7, or one
3.1 Definitions:
of the standard conditioning procedures to be followed, as
3.1.1 room temperature, n—a temperature in the range from
defined in Section 8.
20 to 30°C.
3.1.2 standard laboratory atmosphere, n— an atmosphere
5. Sampling
having a temperature of 23 6 2°C and a relative humidity of 50
5.1 Sample in accordance with the ASTM or other test
6 5%.
method or specification for the specific properties to be
determined.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-9 on Electrical
and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 6. Test Specimens
D09.12 on Electrical Tests .
6.1 Prepare test specimens of the quantity and type specified
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1997. Published August 1997.
in the referencing standard for the properties to be determined.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.02.
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D6054–97
7. Designations for Conditioning 7.2.2 Separate the numbers from each other by a slant mark,
and from the “T” by a dash. Use temperature and relative
7.1 Designation for Conditioning Prior to Test:
humidity tolerances as specified in Section 3 or Table 1, unless
7.1.1 Conditioning of test specimens may be designated as
different tolerances are specified, in which case include the
follows:
tolerances with the numbers indicating temperature or relative
7.1.1.1 A number indicating in hours the duration of condi-
humidity.
tioning,
7.1.1.2 A number indicating in degrees Celsius the condi-
NOTE 2—Examples:
tioning temperature, and
Condition 24/180: T-180—Condition 24 h at 180°C; Test at 180°C. (See
7.1.1.3 A number indicating percent relative humidity, when
7.1.4 relative to minimum and maximum conditioning times.)
relative humidity is controlled, a word to indicate immersion in
Condition 96/35/90: T-35/90—Condition 96 h at 35°C and 90 %
a liquid, or “Des” to indicate desiccation. relative humidity; Test at 35°C and 90 % relative humidity.
7.1.2 Separate the numbers from each other by slant marks.
8. Standard Procedures for Conditioning Prior to Test
Denote a series of conditions by use of a plus (+) sign between
successive conditions.
8.1 Procedure A—Condition 40/23/50 for specimens 7 mm
7.1.3 Use temperature and relative humidity tolerances as
(0.25 in.) or less in thickness, 88/23/50 for specimens over 7
specified in Section 3 or Table 1, unless different tolerances are
mm. Condition in the standard laboratory atmosphere. Provide
specified, in which case include the tolerances with the
air circulation on all sides of the specimens by placing them in
numbers indicating temperature or relative humidity. Desicca-
suitable racks, hanging them from metal clips, or laying them
tion may be achieved by exposure of the specimens in a
on wide-mesh wire-screen frames with at least 25 mm between
desiccator in the presence of anhydrous calcium chloride or
the screen and the bench or other supporting surface.
silica gel or any other equivalent desiccant or apparatus.
8.1.1 Procedure A is generally satisfactory and is recom-
7.1.4 The specified times for nominal conditioning tempera-
mended unless other procedures are specified.
tures in air of 50°C or less are minimum times. For higher
8.1.2 If for any particular material or test a specific longer
conditioning temperatures and for conditioning in a liquid,
time of conditioning is required, the time shall be agreed upon
both the minimum and maximum times must be specified in the
by the interested parties. Shorter conditioning times may be
referencing standard.
used for thin specimens provided equilibrium is substantially
obtained.
NOTE 1—Examples:
Condition 96/23/50—Condition 96 h at 23°C and 50 % relative humid-
NOTE 3—This procedure differs f
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