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.

1.1 This guide describes methods of testing and specifications for electrical insulating liquids intended for use in electrical cables, transformers, liquid 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 oils.

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, D2285

 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, D1807

 Relative Density (Specific
  Gravity)

13

D287, D1217, D1298, D1481, D4052

 Specific Heat

14

D2766

 Thermal Conductivity

15

D2717

 Turbidity

16

D6181

 Viscosity

17

D445, D2161

Electrical Tests:

 Dielectric Breakdown Voltage

18

D877, D1816, D3300

 Dissipation Factor and Rela-
  tive Permittivity (Dielectric
   Constant)

19

D924

Gassing Characteristic
  Under Thermal Stress

20

D7150

 Gassing Tendency

21

D2300

 Resistivity

22

D1169

 Stability Under Electrical
  Discharge

23

D6180

Chemical Tests:

 Acidity, Approximate

24

D1534

 Carbon-Type Composition

25

D2140

 Compatibility with Construc-
  tion Material

26

D3455

 Copper Content

27

D3635

Elements by Inductively
  Coupled Plasma (ICP-AES)

28

D7151

Furanic Compounds in
  Electrical Insulating Liquids

29

D5837

 Dissolved Gas Analysis

30

D3612

 Gas Content of Cable and
  Capacitor Oils

31

D831, D1827, D2945

 Inorganic Chlorides and
  Sulfates

32

D878

 Neutralization (Acid and
  Base) Numbers

33

D664, D974

 Oxidation Inhibitor Content

34

D2668, D4768

 Oxidation Stability

35

D1934, D2112, D2440

 Polychlorinated Biphenyl
  Content (PCB)

36

D4059

Relative Content of
  Dissolved Decay

37

D6802

 Sediment and Soluble Sludge

38

D1698

 Sulfur, Corrosive

39

D1275

 Water Content

40

D1533

Specification:

 Mineral Insulating Oil for
  Electrical Apparatus

41

D3487

 High Firepoint Electrical
  Insulating Oils

42

D5222

Silicone Fluid used for Electrical
  Insulation

43

D4652

Natural (Vegetable Oil) Ester
   Fluids used in Electrical
  Apparatus

44

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.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.