ASTM test methods tracking tests

ASTM D3638, 1993 (1998). Standard test method for comparative tracking index of electrical insulating materials. 

The determination of wearing is carried out according to CEN EN 12274-5 (2003). The test method determines the minimum binder content of the mix under wet track abrasion conditions. It also covers the compatibility between aggregate fillers and cationic bitumen emulsion. The test is similar to wet track abrasion loss described in ASTM D 3910 (2011), a brief description of which is given in Section 6.8.3.1. 

ASTM E 2157.2009. Standard test method for measuring pavement macro-texture properties using the circular track meter. West Conshohocken, PA ASTM International. 

Test methods such as ASTM D 1044 (resistance of transparent plastic materials to abrasion) are also developed for estimating the resistance of transparent plastic materials to one kind of abrasion by measurement of its optical affects. The test is carried out in similar manner to that described above, except that 100 cycles with a 500-g load is normally used. A photoelectric photometer is used to measure the light scattered by abraded track. The percentage of the transmitted light that is diffused by the abraded specimens is reported as a test result. Test method ISO 9352 describes resistance to wear by abrasive wheels. 

A new standard test method is clearly required that will accommodate 0x0-biodegradable plastics and satisfy environmentalists that these materials are fully biocompatible. The British Standards Institution (BSi PKW/0 Packaging and the Environment ) and ASTM (D 20.96) are currently developing alternative mineralisation proeesses for oxo-biodegradable plastics that incorporate controlled pre-ageing processes before the mineralisation test. The protocol shown in Fig. 12.5 outlines the BSi twin-track route to mineralisation. Key features of the test method are as follows. 

The British standard is numbered as BS EN 60112 and the ASTM method is in D363845. There are a number of other tracking and arcing tests but they are rather specialised and not of sufficient general interest for rubbers to be considered here. 

ASTM method D 2132 outlines the procedure for determining dust and fog tracking and erosion resistance of electrical insulating materials. The test is carried out in a fog chamber with a standardized dust applied to the sample surface. Failure is characterized by the erosion of the specimen or tracking. ASTM D 2302 also describes the test for differential wet tracking resistance of electrical insulating... 

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