ASTM D117 – Standard Guide for Sampling, Test Methods, and Specifications for Electrical Insulating Liquids
Description:
Abstract
This guide describes methods of testing and specifications for electrical insulating oils of petroleum origin intended for use in electrical cables, transformers, oil circuit breakers, and other electrical apparatus where the oils are used as insulating, or heat transfer media, or both. This guide is classified into the following categories: sampling practices, physical tests, electrical tests, chemical tests, and specifications. The test methods shall be as follows: aniline point; coefficient of thermal expansion; color; examination; flash and fire point; interfacial tension; pour point of petroleum products; refractive index; relative density; specific heat; thermal conductivity; turbidity; viscosity; dielectric breakdown voltage; dissipation factor and relative permittivity; gassing tendency; resistivity; stability under electrical discharge; acidity; carbon-type composition; compatibility with construction material; copper content; furanic compounds; gas analysis; gas content; inorganic chlorides and sulfates; neutralization numbers; oxidation inhibitor content; oxidation stability; polychlorinated biphenyl content; sediment and soluble sludge; sulfur; water content; mineral insulating oil for electrical apparatus; and high firepoint electrical insulating oils.
Scope
1.1 This guide describes methods of testing and specifications for electrical insulating liquids intended for use in electrical cables, transformers, liquid-filled circuit breakers, and other electrical apparatus where the liquids are used as insulating, or heat transfer media, or both.
1.2 The purpose of this guide is to outline the applicability of the available test methods. Where more than one is available for measuring a given property, their relative advantages are described, along with an indication of laboratory convenience, precision, (95 % confidence limits), and applicability to specific types of electrical insulating liquids.
1.3 This guide is classified into the following categories: Sampling Practices, Physical Tests, Electrical Tests, Chemical Tests, and Specifications. Within each test category, the test methods are listed alphabetically by property measured. A list of standards follows:
| Category | Section | ASTM Standard |
| Sampling: | 3 | D923 |
| Physical Tests: | ||
| Aniline Point | 4 | D611 |
| Coefficient of Thermal Ex- pansion | 5 | D1903 |
| Color | 6 | D1500 |
| Examination: Visual Infrared | 7 | D1524, D2144, D2129 |
| Flash and Fire Point | 8 | D92 |
| Interfacial Tension | 9 | D971 |
| Pour Point of Petroleum Products | 10 | D97, D5949, D5950 |
| Particle Count in Mineral Insulating Oil | 11 | D6786 |
| Refractive Index and Specific Optical Dispersion | 12 | D1218 |
| Relative Density (Specific Gravity) | 13 | D287, D1217, D1298, D1481, D4052 |
| Specific Heat | 14 | D2766 |
| Thermal Conductivity | 15 | D2717 |
| Viscosity | 16 | D445, D2161, D7042 |
| Electrical Tests: | ||
| Dielectric Breakdown Voltage | 17 | D877, D1816, D3300 |
| Dissipation Factor and Rela- tive Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) | 18 | D924 |
| Gassing Characteristic Under Thermal Stress | 19 | D7150 |
| Gassing Tendency | 20 | D2300 |
| Resistivity | 21 | D1169 |
| Chemical Tests: | ||
| Acidity, Approximate | 22 | D1534 |
| Carbon-Type Composition | 23 | D2140 |
| Compatibility with Construc- tion Material | 24 | D3455 |
| Copper Content | 25 | D3635 |
| Elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-AES) | 26 | D7151 |
| Furanic Compounds in Electrical Insulating Liquids | 27 | D5837 |
| Dissolved Gas Analysis | 28 | D3612 |
| Gas Content of Cable and Capacitor Liquids | 29 | D831, D1827, D2945 |
| Neutralization (Acid and Base) Numbers | 30 | D664, D974 |
| Oxidation Inhibitor Content | 31 | D2668, D4768 |
| Oxidation Stability | 32 | D1934, D2112, D2440 |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyl Content (PCB) | 33 | D4059 |
| Sulfur, Corrosive | 34 | D1275 |
| Water Content | 35 | D1533 |
| Specification: | ||
| Mineral Insulating Liquid for Electrical Apparatus | 36 | D3487 |
| Less Flammable Electrical Insulating Liquids | 37 | D5222 |
| Silicone Fluid used for Electrical Insulation | 38 | D4652 |
| Natural (Vegetable Oil) Ester Fluids used in Electrical Apparatus | 39 | D6871 |
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values stated in parentheses are provided for information only.
ASTM D1169