Wrap Back Test

The wrap back examines a wire/cable’s insulation susceptibility to breach when tightly wrapped around itself and exposed to elevated temperatures. This test is usually required in the individual wire specifications as part of the insulation integrity assessment. After the elevated temperature exposure, the specimen is visually examined for any insulation cracks (or delamination in the […] Read more

Insulation Resistance

This test determines the insulation resistance of a finished wire sample. Insulation resistance is of interest in high impedance circuits and as an insulation process quality control test. When used as part of a wire/cable environmental testing, prolonged thermal exposure, and/or extended high voltage testing, changes in the insulation resistance can be used as an […] Read more

Dielectric Withstand Voltage

The dielectric withstand voltage (DWV), sometimes referred to as the “Voltage Proof Test” or “Wet Dielectric Test”, is perhaps one of the most referenced tests when examining wires. The reason is that the test performs the most important part in wire insulation assessment: it determines if the wire insulation is free of breaches (or has […] Read more

Blocking

This test evaluates if a finished wire/cable specimen will block (stick to itself) when subjected to the specimen’s rated temperature. While on an aircraft, wires may be exposed to high temperatures and it is important to check if the finished wire specimens are prone to blocking (in other words, the test examines whether the wire […] Read more

Cable to Cable Abrasion

This test is used to determine the ability of a sample’s insulation to withstand the rubbing on a similar sample in a vibrational environment. Wires/cables in close contact with one another can rub against each other causing progressive deterioration of the insulation. The impact of how quickly the insulation degrades in a wire-to-wire scenario is […] Read more

Bend Test

This test is used to determine the insulation elasticity and propagation of damage through the wire/cable insulation. A wire/cable’s insulation should be sufficiently elastic so that if the wire is bent, there is little risk of the insulation cracking and jeopardizing the insulation integrity. A less elastic wire insulation is more likely that it will […] Read more

Cold Bend Test

This test determines the resistance of wire insulation to cracking at low temperatures while being bent around a mandrel. Using a special cold chamber, we can condition the specimen at the low temperatures that can be experienced during flight and study how it reacts to extreme conditions. This is a very good way to determine […] Read more