Effects of Sample and Test Variables on Electrical Wire Insulation Flammability

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