1、Designation: D4731 13Standard Specification forHot-Application Filling Compounds for TelecommunicationsWire and Cable1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4731; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the ye
2、ar of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope*1.1 This specification covers a variety of petroleum-basedand other compounds used for filling the air spaces in te
3、lecom-munications wires and cables (both electrical and fiber optic)for the purpose of preventing water and other undesirable fluidsfrom entering or migrating through the cable structure. (Forrelated standards see Specifications D4730 and D4732).1.2 A hot-application compound is a material that requ
4、iresmelting in order to be applied as a liquid and its melting pointaffects its performance in the finished cable product.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard. The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to inch-pound units that are provided for informa-tio
5、n only and are not considered standard.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D6 Test Method for Loss on Heating of Oil and AsphalticCompoundsD92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by ClevelandOpen Cup TesterD97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum ProductsD127 Test Method for Drop Melting
6、 Point of PetroleumWax, Including PetrolatumD150 Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permit-tivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical InsulationD257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance ofInsulating MaterialsD445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparentand Opaque L
7、iquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscos-ity)D938 Test Method for Congealing Point of PetroleumWaxes, Including PetrolatumD1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products(ASTM Color Scale)D2161 Practice for Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity toSaybolt Universal Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Vi
8、scosityD3895 Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Poly-olefins by Differential Scanning CalorimetryD3954 Test Method for Dropping Point of WaxesD4565 Test Methods for Physical and Environmental Per-formance Properties of Insulations and Jackets for Tele-communications Wire and CableD4568 Test
9、 Methods for Evaluating Compatibility BetweenCable Filling and Flooding Compounds And PolyolefinWire and Cable MaterialsD4730 Specification for Flooding Compounds for Telecom-munications Wire and CableD4732 Specification for Cool-Application Filling Com-pounds for Telecommunications Wire and CableD4
10、872 Test Method for Dielectric Testing of Wire and CableFilling Compounds3. Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 filling materialany of several materials used to fillthe air spaces in the cores of multi-conductor insulated wiresand cables, or between buffer tubes cover
11、ing optical fibers, orwithin such buffer tubes, or any combination of these configu-rations and any other cable components, for the purpose ofexcluding water and other undesirable fluids; especially withregard to telecommunications wire and cable, including opticalcable, intended for outside aerial,
12、 buried, or undergroundinstallations.3.1.2 producerthe primary manufacturer of the material.3.1.3 suppliersjobbers and distributors as distinct fromproducers.4. Classification4.1 Two basic types of filling compounds are covered, asfollows:4.1.1 Type IGeneral-purpose filling compounds includeall mate
13、rials to be used for filling cables that are not required1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 onElectrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee D09.07 on Electrical Insulating Materials. Subcommittee D02.10contributed in t
14、he development of this standard.Current edition approved May 1, 2013. Published July 2013. Originally approvedin 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4731 02 (2008)1. DOI:10.1520/D4731-13.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Servic
15、e at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-29
16、59. United States1to function under electrical stress (for example, all dielectricfiber-optic cable), including filling compounds for fiber-opticloose buffer tubes.4.1.2 Type IIElectrical-type filling compounds includematerials having prescribed electrical properties and used forfilling wires and ca
17、bles that are required to function fully orpartially under electrical stress (including hybrid fiber-opticcable).5. Ordering Information5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall includethe following information:5.1.1 Quantity (mass or volume) of each item,5.1.2 Generic name of the mater
18、ial, such as hot-applicationcable filling material,5.1.3 Type of material: Type I, General Purpose or Type II,Electrical,5.1.4 How Furnished: drums or barrels, tank cars or tanktrucks, and the like,5.1.5 Certification, if required (Section 14).5.1.6 This specification designation, and5.1.7 Any speci
19、al requirements, as listed in 7.2, 9.2 and 10.2and in Sections 11 and 12 that apply.6. Materials and Manufacture6.1 The material and manufacturing methods used shall besuch that the resulting products will conform to the propertiesand characteristics prescribed in this specification.7. Chemical Comp
20、osition7.1 The chemical composition of these materials is notspecified. The material shall be of a chemical compositionsuitable for the intended purpose and that meets the require-ments of this specification as hereinafter stated.7.2 When agreed upon between the producer and thepurchaser, antioxidan
21、t stabilizing additives shall be included inthe compound formulation to assure specified results in thermaloxidative stability testing.7.3 Once established, the producer shall not change thecomposition of the compound in successive lots of materialwithout prior approval of the purchaser.8. Electrica
22、l Properties8.1 When a Type II (electrical) filling compound isspecified, the compound shall exhibit the electrical propertiesin 8.1.1 and 8.1.2. The electrodes used shall be parallel platesof solid or foil metal of a size and shape appropriate for thespecimen holder. Other electrodes are used as ag
23、reed uponbetween the producer and the purchaser. The voltage appliedand the time of electrification shall be appropriate for theinstrumentation used and as agreed upon between the producerand the purchaser.8.1.1 When tested, in accordance with Test Methods D150or D4872, at a temperature of 23 6 3 C,
24、 the dissipation factorshall not exceed 0.0010 at a frequency of 1 MHz and thepermittivity shall not exceed 2.30.8.1.1.1 Warning If any bubbles are formed in melting thecompound to prepare the specimen for test, the sample shall bediscarded and a new sample selected.8.1.2 When tested, in accordance
25、with Test Methods D257,at a temperature of 23 6 3 C, the volume resistivity shall benot less than 1013cm.9. Physical Properties9.1 Filling compound furnished under this specificationshall inhibit the corrosion of any metallic wire and cableelements with which it comes in contact, while serving as ar
26、adial and longitudinal barrier to moisture transmission. Con-tact of the filling compound with any cable component shallnot cause degradation of performance of the cable component.The filling compound shall display adhesive properties toprovide adhesion between metallic sheath elements and theouter
27、jacket materials of wire and cable.9.2 Other Physical Properties:9.2.1 Other property requirements such as Flash Point (forexample, Test Method D92), high-temperature drip/oil separa-tion (syneresis) in the raw material state, and the like, shall beas agreed upon between the producer and the purchas
28、er.(Additional information on oil separation is given in theappendix of this specification.)10. General Requirements10.1 All filling compounds manufactured in accordancewith this specification shall meet the following requirements:10.1.1 HomogeneityThe compound shall be homoge-neous and free of aggl
29、omerates.10.1.2 Color and OpacityThe compound shall be asnearly colorless as is commercially feasible, consistent with therequirements of the end products for which the filling com-pound is intended. In general, identification of cable memberscoated with filling compound shall not be significantly i
30、nhib-ited because of filling-compound color or opacity.10.1.3 Color StabilityAfter aging a specimen of fillingcompound in a suitable container for a period of 120 6 1h(5days) at a temperature of 266 F (130 C) in a static air oven,measure the compound color in accordance with Test MethodD1500. Unless
31、 otherwise specified, the color of the agedcompound shall not exceed 2.5.10.1.4 Foreign MaterialThe compounds shall be free ofdirt, metallic particles, and other foreign matter.10.2 Other PropertiesOther property requirements suchas Volatility (for example, Test Method D6), thermal oxidativestabilit
32、y (for example, testing similar to Test Method D3895),corrosion prevention and the like, shall be as agreed uponbetween the producer and the purchaser.NOTE 1If Test Method D6 is referenced, a test cycle of 22 h at 107 C(225 F) is recommended in lieu of the 163 C (325 F) temperaturerequired by Test M
33、ethod D6.11. Temperature Characteristics11.1 Raw material temperature characteristics, such as PourPoint (for example, Test Method D97), Drop-Melting Point(for example, Test Method D127), Viscosity (for example, TestMethod D445 and Practice D2161), Congealing Point (forD4731 132example, Test Method
34、D938), Drop Point (for example, TestMethod D3954), if needed, shall be as agreed upon between theproducer and the purchaser.NOTE 2Although cited in 11.1, Test Method D127 is “not” a preferredmethod for determining melting point of wire and cable filling compoundssince results tend to be too high to
35、be useful in predicting materialbehavior in the cable-filling process. However, this may be a good test forquality control purposes. (Refer to the appendix of this specification foradditional information.)11.2 The purchaser (individual cable manufacturer or other)shall specify any other expected tem
36、perature conformancerequirements (high and low) needed to ensure compliance withsuch end product requirements as cable drip-out temperature,cold bend, low temperature flexibility, and the like (forexample, Test Methods D4565).12. Compatibility with other Materials12.1 It is the responsibility of the
37、 purchaser to ensure thatthe filling compound ordered is suitable for the intendedapplication and is compatible with any other components thatit comes into contact with.12.2 The purchaser shall specify the materials that thecompound must be compatible with when tested in accordancewith Test Methods
38、D4568.13. Quality Assurance13.1 Responsibility for Inspection and TestsUnless other-wise specified in the contract or the purchase order, theproducer is responsible for the performance of all inspectionand test requirements specified herein. The producer shall usehis own or any other suitable facili
39、ties for the performance ofthese inspection and test requirements, unless otherwise statedby the purchaser in the order or at the time of the contractsigning. The purchaser shall have the right to perform any ofthe inspections and tests set forth in this specification wheresuch inspections are deeme
40、d necessary to ensure that thematerial conforms to the prescribed requirements.13.2 Each producer shall establish written nominal valuesand tolerances for the material properties routinely checked.For properties not routinely checked, typical values shall bespecified. Once these values have been acc
41、epted by thepurchaser, the producer shall not ship material that deviatesfrom these limits without prior notification to and the approvalof the purchaser.13.3 An inspection lot shall consist of an identifiable quan-tity of the same material subjected to inspection at one time.14. Certification14.1 T
42、he producer or supplier shall, on request, furnish tothe purchaser a certificate stating that each lot has beensampled, tested, and inspected in accordance with thisspecification, and meets the specified requirements.15. Packaging and Package Marking15.1 PackagingQuantities of the filling compound a
43、repackaged in standard 55 gal (210 L) drums or in tank carscapable of protecting the material from contamination duringshipment. Smaller containers are also used as agreed uponbetween the producer and the purchaser.15.2 Package MarkingShipping containers shall bemarked with the name of the manufactu
44、rer, trade name, type ofmaterial, lot number, mass or volume, and the date of manu-facture.16. Keywords16.1 compatibility; filling compounds; hot application; tele-communications wire and cableAPPENDIX(Nonmandatory Information)X1. DISCUSSION OF FILLING COMPOUND PROPERTIESX1.1 Most, but not all, wire
45、 and cable filling materials aresemi-solid in their natural state but are introduced into a wireor cable structure in a molten state at a relatively hightemperature. The performance properties of such wire andcable filling materials (as raw materials and in finishedproducts) is not completely unders
46、tood in spite of the fact thatsuch materials have been in regular use for many years, andnumerous technical papers have been written on the subject.Since there is no one test or series of tests that can be appliedto these raw materials that will guarantee desired performancein a finished electrical
47、or optical wire and cable product, manyof the detailed requirements of this specification must be left tothe discretion and agreement of the producer and the purchaser.In reaching an agreement upon these detailed requirements, thefollowing factors are among those that need to be consideredby the par
48、ties involved:X1.1.1 In evaluating properties such as melting point, flowperformance, and the like, the heat history of the fillingmaterial prior to the test must be considered. Slow coolingfrom a molten state can, for example, depress the melting pointof the material. In making tests, special care
49、must be exercisedto ensure that the material to be tested is free of any “hidden”heat history.X1.1.2 Although opinion on this point is not unanimous, themelting point of shock-cooled material is, in most instances, ofmost relevance to electrical cable manufacturers. The cablemanufacturing process used with cable filling materials will, inD4731 133most cases, ensure shock cooling to assure that the meltingpoint is not depressed.Ahigh melting point is needed to ensurea high drip-out temperature in the finished product (see 11.2).X1.1.3 Shock cooling is not
