Validation of NHB 8060.1C, Test 18 Arc Tracking, September 30, 1991

A test project was conducted to validate Test 18 of NASA Handbook (NHB) 8060.1C and, if necessary, identify and recommend improvements in the procedures or criteria of the test. The NHB 8060.1C, Test 18 test system was modified to produce better discrimination of test results. Changes, and their effects on test results, in the graphite immersion-depth, test timing sequence, and atmospheric conditions were investigated for the wire-insulation constructions tested. Based on the test results, the graphite immersion-depths (between 0.8 mm and 1.6 mm), the timing sequence, and the change in the test conditions from ambient to three environments common in manned spaceflight did not significantly affect test results. The criteria used in Test 18 of NHB 8060.1C was found to be appropriate for qualifying arc-tracking and arc-propagation characteristics of wire-insulation materials, Using the Test 18 criteria, Kapton and ETFE were considered inappropriate for use, while PTFE was considered appropriate. Recommendations from this test project for Test 18 of NHB 8060.1C include changing the experimental setup and configurational tests and performing qualification testing in air rather than in the three environments common in manned spaceflight.