EFFECTS OF SAMPLE AND TEST VARIABLES ON ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION FLAMMABILITY

A new test method has been adopted to evaluate the flammability of ele ctrical wire insulation materials. In this test, wire insulation is ex posed to an external ignition source while the electrical conductor is internally heated by an electric current. The repeatability of the te st and the effects of wire gage and insulation thickness, internal wir e temperature, and sample orientation on the wire insulation flammabil ity were evaluated. Experimental results showed that the new test is a practical and repeatable method for evaluating flammability of wire i nsulation materials.