BS EN 60811-406:2012 BSI Standards Publication Electric and optical fibre cables — Test methods for non-metallic materials Part 406: Miscellaneous tests — Resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds BRITISH STANDARD BS EN 60811-406:2012 National foreword This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 60811-406:2012 It is identical to IEC 60811-406:2012 In the UK, the relationship between the supersessions of BS EN 60811 series can be summarized as follows BS EN 60811-100 together with -201, -202, -203, -501 -301, -302, -411, -601, -602, -603, -604 -401, -412 -402, -502, -503, -606 -403, -404, -507 -405, -409 -406, -511, -605, -607 -407, -408, -410, -510, -512, -513 -504, -505, -506 -508, -509 Supersedes BS EN 60811-1-1:1995 BS EN 60811-5-1:2000 BS EN 60811-1-2:1995 BS EN 60811-1-3:1995 BS EN 60811-2-1:1998 BS EN 60811-3-2:1995 BS EN 60811-4-1:2004 BS EN 60811-4-2:2004 BS EN 60811-1-4:1995 BS EN 60811-3-1:1995 Superseded standards are withdrawn The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical Committee GEL/20, Electric cables, to Subcommittee GEL/20/17, Electric Cables - Low voltage A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract Users are responsible for its correct application © The British Standards Institution 2012 Published by BSI Standards Limited 2012 ISBN 978 580 65316 ICS 29.035.01; 29.060.20 Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 July 2012 Amendments issued since publication Amd No Date Text affected EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60811-406 NORME EUROPÉENNE June 2012 EUROPÄISCHE NORM ICS 29.035.01; 29.060.20 Supersedes EN 60811-4-1:2004 (partially) English version Electric and optical fibre cables Test methods for non-metallic materials Part 406: Miscellaneous tests Resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds (IEC 60811-406:2012) Câbles électriques et fibres optiques Méthodes d'essai pour les matériaux nonmétalliques Partie 406: Essais divers Résistance des mélanges polyéthylène et polypropylène aux craquelures (CEI 60811-406:2012) Kabel, isolierte Leitungen und Glasfaserkabel Prüfverfahren für nichtmetallene Werkstoffe Teil 406: Sonstige Prüfungen Prüfung der Spannungsrissbeständigkeit von Polyethylen- und Polypropylenmischungen (IEC 60811-406:2012) This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2012-04-16 CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CENELEC member This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German) A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom CENELEC European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels © 2012 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members Ref No EN 60811-406:2012 E BS EN 60811-406:2012 EN 60811-406:2012 -2- Foreword The text of document 20/1290/FDIS, future edition of IEC 60811-406, prepared by IEC/TC 20 "Electric cables" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN 60811-406:2012 The following dates are fixed: • • latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the document have to be withdrawn (dop) 2013-01-16 (dow) 2015-04-16 This document supersedes Clause of EN 60811-4-1:2004 (partially) Full details of the replacements are shown in Annex A of EN 60811-100:2012 There are no technical changes with respect to EN 60811-4-1:2004, but see the Foreword to EN 60811100:2012 This standard is to be read in conjunction with EN 60811-100 Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights This standard covers the Principle Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment Designed for Use within Certain Voltage Limits (LVD - 2006/95/EC) Endorsement notice The text of the International Standard IEC 60811-406:2012 was approved by CENELEC as a European Standard without any modification -3- BS EN 60811-406:2012 EN 60811-406:2012 Annex ZA (normative) Normative references to international publications with their corresponding European publications 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 NOTE When an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD applies Publication Year Title EN/HD Year IEC 60811-100 2012 Electric and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials Part 100: General EN 60811-100 2012 –2– BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Scope Normative references Terms and definitions Test method 4.1 4.2 General Method A 4.2.1 Reagent 4.2.2 Apparatus 4.2.3 Test pieces preparation 4.2.4 Test procedure 4.2.5 Evaluation of results 4.3 Method B 4.3.1 Reagent 4.3.2 Apparatus 4.3.3 Test pieces preparation 4.3.4 Test procedure 4.3.5 Evaluation of results Test report Annex A (normative) Test sheet preparation 13 Annex B (informative) Tools and reagents 15 Bibliography 16 Figure – Notching device 10 Figure – Blade 10 Figure – Bend clamp assembly 11 Figure – Transfer tool assembly 11 Figure – Brass channel test piece holder 11 Figure – Test tube with inserted brassw channel test piece holder as in 4.2.2 h)), containing ten test pieces 12 Figure – Notched test pieces 12 Table – Summary of test conditions and requirements Table – Notched test pieces size according to polyethylene density BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 –5– INTRODUCTION The IEC 60811 series specifies the test methods to be used for testing non-metallic materials of all types of cables These test methods are intended to be referenced in standards for cable construction and for cable materials NOTE Non-metallic materials are typically used for insulating, sheathing, bedding, filling or taping within cables NOTE 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 –6– BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 ELECTRIC AND OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES – TEST METHODS FOR NON-METALLIC MATERIALS – Part 406: Miscellaneous tests – Resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds 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 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 Terms and definitions For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60811-100 apply 4.1 Test method 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 BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 –7– Table – Summary of test conditions and requirements Conditions and/or requirements Method A Method B Preparation of the test sheets: – Temperature – Force – Time °C kN 165 to 170 50 to 200 °C K/h See a 5±2 Conditioning of test sheets: – Temperature range – Cooling rate Test conditions: – Reagent b – Concentration – Temperature – Duration (minimum) 100 % °C h 24 10 50,0 ± 0,5 48 Requirements: – Failure rate a Max test pieces (F 50) test pieces (F 0) 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 4.2 Igepal CO-630 or any other reagent having the same chemical composition 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 and below and Annex B) NOTE The reagent should not be used more than once NOTE 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 % 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 mm to mm in diameter and a gauging pressure of N/cm to N/cm c) Notching devices as in Figure with blades as in Figure NOTE The blade is made of “Gem” blades as in Figure – see also Annex A d) Bending clamp assembly as in Figure with a vice or other suitable device ensuring the symmetrical closing of the clamping jaws e) Transfer tool assembly as in Figure 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 for accommodating ten bent test pieces BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 –8– 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 and Figure 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 and Figure The test pieces shall be cut with square edges Bevelled edges may lead to erroneous results Table – Notched test pieces size according to polyethylene density Density of PE-sheathing compounds a A B C mm mm mm b mm ≤0,940 g/cm 38,0 ± 2,5 13,0 ± 0,8 3,00 to 3,30 0,50 to 0,65 >0,940 g/cm 38,0 ± 2,5 13,0 ± 0,8 1,75 to 2,0 0,30 to 0,40 a The density is for the unfilled resin, according to Clause of IEC 60811-100:2012 b The depth D shall be uniform along its length 4.2.4 D 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), to 10 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 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 BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 –9– 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, and below and Annex B) NOTE The reagent should not be used more than once NOTE 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 % will cause a significant increase in reagent activity NOTE 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 h The solution should be used within one week of preparation 4.3.2 Apparatus See 4.2.2 4.3.3 Test pieces preparation See 4.2.3 4.3.4 Test procedure 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 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 Test report The test report shall be in accordance with that given in IEC 60811-100 – 10 – BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 Figure – Notching device Dimensions in millimetres Figure – Blade BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 – 11 – Key rear clamp guide bar insert test piece screw front clamp Figure – Bend clamp assembly Figure – Transfer tool assembly Dimensions in millimetres NOTE The dimension (11,75 ± 0,05) mm is the channel internal width Figure – Brass channel test piece holder – 12 – BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 Figure – Test tube with inserted brass channel test piece holder as in 4.2.2 h)), containing ten test pieces Dimensions in millimetres Figure – Notched test pieces BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 – 13 – 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 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 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 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 mm above the centre of the horizontal surface of the moulded sheet, shall then be controlled as follows: – 14 – BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 The oven test temperature shall be maintained for h at 145 °C ± °C for low-density polyethylene, 155 °C ± °C for medium-density polyethylene, and 165 °C ± °C for high-density polyethylene Cooling shall be at the rate of (5 ± 2) K /h until it reaches 29 °C ± °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 used Conditioning of the test sheets should be optional In case of dispute, a conditioned specimen should be 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 BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 – 15 – 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-630 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 % water Because it is hygroscopic, it should be stored in closed metal or glass containers _ 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 – 16 – BS EN 60811-406:2012 60811-406 IEC:2012 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) This page deliberately left blank NO COPYING WITHOUT BSI PERMISSION EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW British Standards Institution (BSI) BSI is the national body responsible for preparing British Standards and other standards-related publications, information and services BSI is incorporated by Royal Charter British Standards and other standardization products are published by BSI Standards Limited About us Revisions We bring together business, industry, government, consumers, innovators and others to shape their combined experience and expertise into standards -based solutions Our British Standards and other publications are updated by amendment or revision The knowledge embodied in our standards has been carefully assembled in a dependable format and refined through 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