Iec 60811 406 2012

IEC 60811 406 Edition 1 0 2012 03 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD NORME INTERNATIONALE Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non metallic materials – Part 406 Miscellaneous tests – Resistance to[.]

Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –

Part 406: Miscellaneous tests – Resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene

and polypropylene compounds

Câbles électriques et à fibres optiques – Méthodes d’essai pour les matériaux

non-métalliques –

Partie 406: Essais divers – Résistance des mélanges polyéthylène et

polypropylène aux craquelures

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Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –

Part 406: Miscellaneous tests – Resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene

and polypropylene compounds

Câbles électriques et à fibres optiques – Méthodes d’essai pour les matériaux

non-métalliques –

Partie 406: Essais divers – Résistance des mélanges polyéthylène et

polypropylène aux craquelures

Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor

Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD 3

INTRODUCTION 5

1 Scope 6

2 Normative references 6

3 Terms and definitions 6

4 Test method 6

4.1 General 6

4.2 Method A 7

4.2.1 Reagent 7

4.2.2 Apparatus 7

4.2.3 Test pieces preparation 8

4.2.4 Test procedure 8

4.2.5 Evaluation of results 8

4.3 Method B 9

4.3.1 Reagent 9

4.3.2 Apparatus 9

4.3.3 Test pieces preparation 9

4.3.4 Test procedure 9

4.3.5 Evaluation of results 9

5 Test report 9

Annex A (normative) Test sheet preparation 13

Annex B (informative) Tools and reagents 15

Bibliography 16

Figure 1 – Notching device 10

Figure 2 – Blade 10

Figure 3 – Bend clamp assembly 11

Figure 4 – Transfer tool assembly 11

Figure 5 – Brass channel test piece holder 11

Figure 6 – Test tube with inserted brassw channel test piece holder as in 4.2.2 h)), containing ten test pieces 12

Figure 7 – Notched test pieces 12

Table 1 – Summary of test conditions and requirements 7

Table 2 – Notched test pieces size according to polyethylene density 8

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

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International Standard IEC 60811-406 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 20:

Electric cables

This Part 406 of IEC 60811 cancels and replaces Clause 8 of IEC 60811-4-1:2004, which is

withdrawn Full details of the replacements are shown in Annex A of IEC 60811-100:2012

There are no specific technical changes with respect to the previous edition, but see the

Foreword to IEC 60811-100:2012

The text of this standard is based on the following documents:

FDIS Report on voting 20/1290/FDIS 20/1339/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on

voting indicated in the above table

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2

This part of IEC 60811 shall be used in conjunction with IEC 60811-100

A list of all the parts in the IEC 60811 series, published under the general title Electric and

optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials, can be found on the IEC

website

The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until

the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data

related to the specific publication At this date, the publication will be

• reconfirmed,

• withdrawn,

• replaced by a revised edition, or

• amended

INTRODUCTION

of all types of cables These test methods are intended to be referenced in standards for

cable construction and for cable materials

NOTE 1 Non-metallic materials are typically used for insulating, sheathing, bedding, filling or taping within cables

NOTE 2 These test methods are accepted as basic and fundamental and have been developed and used over

many years principally for the materials in all energy cables They have also been widely accepted and used for

other cables, in particular optical fibre cables, communication and control cables and cables for ships and offshore

applications

ELECTRIC AND OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES – TEST METHODS FOR NON-METALLIC MATERIALS –

Part 406: Miscellaneous tests – Resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene

and polypropylene compounds

1 Scope

This Part 406 of IEC 60811 gives the procedure for evaluating the resistance to stress

cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds which are typically used for

communication and optical fibre cables

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

IEC 60811-100:2012, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic

materials – Part 100: General

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60811-100 apply

4 Test method

4.1 General

This part of IEC 60811 shall be used in conjunction with IEC 60811-100

Unless otherwise specified, tests shall be carried out at room temperature

Two test procedures can be applied to materials, depending on cable system conditions and

environments; a summary of test conditions is given in Table 1:

– for less severe conditions: Method A;

– for more severe conditions: Method B

These test procedures apply only to the original granules used as sheathing materials

Table 1 – Summary of test conditions and requirements

Preparation of the test sheets:

– Temperature range °C

a

5 ± 2 Test conditions:

a Starting temperature varies according to polymer type:

- (145 ± 2) °C for low-density polyethylene;

- (155 ± 2) °C for medium-density polyethylene;

- (165 ± 2) °C for high-density polyethylene

Final temperature (29 ± 1) °C

b Igepal CO-630 or any other reagent having the same chemical composition

4.2 Method A

4.2.1 Reagent

The reagent is a solution of 100 % Igepal CO-630 (Antarox CO-630) or any other reagent

having the same chemical composition (see Notes 1 and 2 below and Annex B)

NOTE 1 The reagent should not be used more than once

NOTE 2 In the case of unexpectedly short failure times, the reagent should be checked for water content as small

increases in water content beyond the specified maximum of 1 % will cause a significant increase in reagent

activity

4.2.2 Apparatus

The apparatus shall comprise the following elements:

a) Clean, sharp, undamaged blanking die with blanking press suitable for cutting test pieces

(38,0 ± 2,5) mm × (13,0 ± 0,8) mm or other suitable devices

b) Dial gauge, with plane gauging faces 4 mm to 8 mm in diameter and a gauging pressure

of 5 N/cm2 to 8 N/cm2

c) Notching devices as in Figure 1 with blades as in Figure 2

NOTE The blade is made of “Gem” blades as in Figure 2 – see also Annex A

d) Bending clamp assembly as in Figure 3 with a vice or other suitable device ensuring the

symmetrical closing of the clamping jaws

e) Transfer tool assembly as in Figure 4 for shifting in one operation the bent test piece(s)

from the bending clamp to the brass channel

f) Brass channel test piece holder as in Figure 5 for accommodating ten bent test pieces

g) Hard glass test tubes (L = 200 mm, Ø 32 mm) for accommodating the brass channel test

piece holder with the bent test pieces The tubes are plugged by suitable aluminium foil

wrapped corks (see Figure 6)

h) A heated container of sufficient size and depth to accept racks which will hold the filled

test tubes (see Figure 6) The temperature shall be maintained at (50 ± 0,5) °C by means

of suitable equipment and the thermal capacity shall be high enough to ensure that the

temperature does not drop below 49 °C even when the test tubes are inserted

4.2.3 Test pieces preparation

Using the blanking die and blanking press as in 4.2.2 a) or other suitable devices, ten test

pieces according to Table 2 and Figure 7 shall be cut from the test sheet more than 25 mm

from the edges of the sheet, prepared according to Annex A, so that the web between the

holes after removal of the test pieces is not damaged during handling

The thickness of the test pieces determined using the dial gauge as in 4.2.2 b) shall be in

accordance with Table 2 and Figure 7 The test pieces shall be cut with square edges

Bevelled edges may lead to erroneous results

Table 2 – Notched test pieces size according to polyethylene density

13,0 ± 0,8 13,0 ± 0,8

3,00 to 3,30 1,75 to 2,0

0,50 to 0,65 0,30 to 0,40

a The density is for the unfilled resin, according to Clause 5 of IEC 60811-100:2012

b The depth D shall be uniform along its length

4.2.4 Test procedure

Shortly before placing into the reagent, each of the test pieces shall be given a notch (see

Figure 7) using the notching device as in 4.2.2 c) The blade shall be neither dull nor

damaged and, therefore, shall be replaced as required Even under favourable conditions, it

should not be used for more than 100 notches

Ten test pieces shall then be placed, with the notch up, in the bending clamp as in 4.2.2 d)

The clamp shall be closed for 30 s to 35 s by means of a vice or a motor-driven arbor press at

a constant speed

The bent test pieces shall be lifted with the transfer tool as in 4.2.2 e) from the bending clamp

and placed in the brass channel as in 4.2.2 f) If some test pieces are riding too high in the

holder, they shall be forced down by manual pressure

The holder shall be inserted in a tube as in 4.2.2 g), 5 min to 10 min after the test pieces have

been bent The test tube shall be filled with the appropriate reagent as in 4.2.1 until all the

test pieces are covered by the liquid, and shall be closed by a cork

The filled test tube shall be placed immediately in a rack in the heated container as in 4.2.2 h)

during 24 h Care shall be taken so that the test pieces do not touch the test tube during the

test The moment of insertion in the heated container shall be noted

4.2.5 Evaluation of results

In general, stress cracking starts at the notch and runs at right angles to it The first sign of a

crack when examined with normal or corrected vision without magnification, constitutes a

failure of the test piece

After 24 h, in the heated container no more than five test pieces shall have failed If six test

pieces have failed, the test is to be considered as not passed The test may be repeated once

using ten test pieces from a new test sheet and no more than five test pieces shall fail

4.3 Method B

4.3.1 Reagent

The reagent is a solution of 10 % solution (by volume) in water of Igepal CO-630 (Antarox

CO-630) or any other reagent having the same chemical composition (see Notes 1, 2 and 3

below and Annex B)

NOTE 1 The reagent should not be used more than once

NOTE 2 In the case of unexpectedly short failure times, the reagent should be checked for water content as small

increases in water content beyond the specified maximum of 1 % will cause a significant increase in reagent

activity

NOTE 3 Water solution of Igepal CO-630 or similar material should be prepared by paddle-stirring the mixture

at 60 °C to 70 °C for at least 1 h The solution should be used within one week of preparation

Follow the test procedure as described in 4.2.4, but the test tube shall be filled with reagent

as in 4.3.1 until all the test pieces are covered by the liquid and shall be closed by a cork

The filled test tube shall be placed immediately in a rack in the heated container as in 4.2.2 h)

during 48 h Care shall be taken so that the test pieces do not touch the test tube during the

test The moment of insertion in the heated container shall be noted

4.3.5 Evaluation of results

In general, stress cracking starts at the notch and runs at right angles to it The first sign of a

crack, when examined with normal or corrected vision without magnification, constitutes a

failure of the test piece

After 48 h in the heated container, no test pieces shall have failed If one test piece has

failed, the test is to be considered as not passed The test may be repeated once using ten

test pieces from a new sheet and no test piece shall fail

5 Test report

The test report shall be in accordance with that given in IEC 60811-100

Figure 1 – Notching device

Dimensions in millimetres

Figure 2 – Blade

Key

1 rear clamp 4 guide bar

2 insert test piece 5 screw

3 front clamp

Figure 3 – Bend clamp assembly

Figure 4 – Transfer tool assembly

Dimensions in millimetres

NOTE The dimension (11,75 ± 0,05) mm is the channel internal width

Figure 5 – Brass channel test piece holder

Figure 6 – Test tube with inserted brass channel test piece holder as in 4.2.2 h)),

containing ten test pieces

Dimensions in millimetres

Figure 7 – Notched test pieces

Annex A

(normative)

Test sheet preparation

A.1 Apparatus

The apparatus shall comprise the following elements:

a) Heatable press for producing moulded test sheets, with platens which are larger than the

backing plates

b) Two rigid metal backing plates (6,0 ± 0,5) mm thick and about 200 mm × 230 mm in area,

each drilled with a hole from one edge so that a temperature sensor can be located within

5 mm of the centre of the plate

c) Two separator sheets, about 200 mm × 230 mm, for instance aluminium foil 0,1 mm

to 0,2 mm thick

d) Suitable moulding chases for producing test sheets, 150 mm × 180 mm × (3,3 ± 0,1) mm

with internal corners rounded to a radius of 3 mm

e) Electrically heated air oven with forced air circulation and programming device which

lowers temperature at a rate of (5,0 ± 0,5) K/h

A.2 Preparation of the test sheets

For preparing a test, a clean separator foil as in Clause A.1 c) shall be placed on the backing

plate as in Clause A.1 b), the moulding chase as in Clause A.1 d) The chase shall be filled

with (90 ± 1) g of granules or mill-massed material forming a uniform layer on top of which the

second separator foil and then the second backing plate shall be placed No release agent

shall be used

The mould assembly shall be placed in the moulding press as in Clause A.1 a), preheated

to 170 °C, and the press shall be closed, using a force ≤1 kN

When the temperature, as indicated by the sensors in the backing plate, has reached 165 °C

to 170 °C, a full force in the range 50 kN to 200 kN shall be applied to the mould by means of

the press, for a period of 2 min during which the sensors shall continue to indicate values in

the range 165 °C to 170 °C On completion of the full force phase, the heating of the mould

assembly shall be stopped either by removing from the press or by fast cooling in the press

under full force

A.3 Conditioning of the test sheets

Conditioning of test sheets shall be agreed between the interested parties since it may

substantially affect the test results If such an agreement does not exist, the treatment given

in this clause shall be used as a reference treatment

After removing the backing plates without disturbing the separator foil, the moulded test sheet

shall be placed in an oven, as in Clause A.1 e), so as to permit free circulation of air around

it The moulding shall be well supported on thermally conducting horizontal surfaces and a

good contact maintained between the separator foils and the polyethylene

The temperature, as measured not further than 5 mm above the centre of the horizontal

surface of the moulded sheet, shall then be controlled as follows:

The oven test temperature shall be maintained for 1 h at 145 °C ± 2 °C for low-density

poly-ethylene, 155 °C ± 2 °C for medium-density polypoly-ethylene, and 165 °C ± 2 °C for high-density

polyethylene Cooling shall be at the rate of (5 ± 2) K /h until it reaches 29 °C ± 1 °C It is also

permissible to cool the moulded test sheets while in the press The actual cooling rate shall

be recorded by a graphical recorder

NOTE Conditioning of the test sheets should be optional In case of dispute, a conditioned specimen should be

used

A.4 Visual examination of the test sheets

The sheet shall exhibit a smooth surface and shall not contain any bubbles, lumps or sink

marks except within 10 mm of the edge

Annex B

(informative)

Tools and reagents

B.1 Tools

The tools indicated in 4.2.2 can be obtained from:

MM Custom Scientific Instruments Inc

1125 Convoy Place

Forks Township (Easton)

Philadelphia 18040 Pa

USA Detail drawings of the tools are obtainable from:

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

1916 Race Street

Philadelphia 19103 Pa

USA

B.2 Reagents

The reagent 100 % IGEPAL CO-6301 of density 1,06 at 25 °C can be obtained from:

GAF Corp., Dyestuff and Chemical Div

140 West 51 Street

New York, N.Y 10020

USA and must contain less than 1 % water Because it is hygroscopic, it should be stored in closed

metal or glass containers

_

1 Igepal C0-630 is the tradename of a product supplied by GAF Corporation This information is given for the

convenience of users of this standard and does not constitute an endorsement by IEC of the product named

Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results

Bibliography

IEC 60811-4-1:2004, Insulating and sheathing materials of electric and optical cables –

Common test methods – Part 4-1: Methods specific to polyethylene and polypropylene

compounds – Resistance to environmental stress cracking – Measurement of the melt flow

index – Carbon black and/or mineral filler content measurement in polyethylene by direct

combustion – Measurement of carbon black content by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) –

Assessment of carbon black dispersion in polyethylene using a microscope

(withdrawn)