Our Testing Services
Accelerated aging is a test to help predict the long term chemical and mechanical durability of wire/cable insulation materials. Subjected to temperatures in excess of their prescribed rating, insulating materials break down quickly so data that would take months and years to gather can be attained in mere weeks and days.
Accelerated aging is a test to help predict the long term chemical and mechanical durability of wire/cable insulation materials. Subjected to temperatures in excess of their prescribed rating, insulating materials break down quickly so data that would take months and years to gather can be attained in mere weeks and days.
The purpose of adherence of plating is to measures the effectiveness of adherence of the applied plating to conductor. Copper conductors are normally plated with pure metal coatings to improve the conductor performance and reduce resistivity.
The adhesion of Nickel coating test evaluates the adherence of a nickel plating to an underlying copper/ copper alloy material.
Life cycling of polyalkene wire is a three step process that starts with placing the wire in a high temperature air circulated oven for a defined period of time. Sustained high temperature exposure is performed followed by mechanical and electrical tests.
The specimens are suspended in a heat chamber without touching one another or the walls for 7 days at the applicable test temperature. After the conditioning period, the specimens are removed from the heat chamber and conditioned at room ambient temperature for 4 hours minimum.
Wired, mated, and assembled connectors are tested inside a pressurized chamber with the temperature reduced to simulate an altitude of 100,000 feet. The chamber's internal temperature is reduced to -65 °C and is maintained until the connector temperature stabilizes.
The Axial Stability test evaluates the ability of wire/ cable insulation to resist longitudinal dimensional change while cycling between high and low temperatures.
This test is used to determine the insulation elasticity and propagation of damage through the wire/cable insulation.
This test determines if a finished wire specimen will block (stick to itself) when subjected to the rated temperature of the specimen. While on an aircraft, wires may be exposed to high temperatures and it important to check if the finished wire specimens are prone to blocking. At the end of the test, we will inspect the wire and examine for adhesion (blocking) of adjacent turns.
This test determines the resistance of wire insulation to cracking at low temperature 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 the extreme conditions. This is a very good way to determine if the wire sample would be able to survive at these typical temperatures. At the end of the test, we will examine for any visible cracks then perform a wet dielectric test for assurance.
Cold impact testing assesses whether a cable can withstand impact forces after being subjected to low temperatures without cracking and continue to maintain insulation properties.
The color retention test evaluates an insulation's ability to maintain its color under elevated temperature exposure.
The objective of the continuity of the conductor coating is to examine the quality of the conductor plating before it has been subject to stranding or the insulation application process. Further, this examines the durability of the conductor coating to both mechanical and thermal stresses.
This test determines if a finished wire specimen will block (stick to itself) or flaring of layers when subjected to the rated temperature of the specimen. While on an aircraft, wires may be exposed to high temperatures and it important to check if the finished wire specimens are prone to blocking or delamination. At the end of the test, we will inspect the wire and examine for adhesion (blocking) and delamination (separation of layers) of adjacent turns.
This test evaluates tape wrapped insulation for sealing between wraps after thermal stress.
In particular, this test method examines the performance at different pressures (altitudes). As the atmospheric pressure decreases, so too does the required maximum service voltage to be used in testing.
The dimensional stability test determines the protrusion or contraction of the insulation with respect to the outer conductor on both specimen ends.
The drip test is an evaluation of the filler material inside a cable and its tendency to drip from the cable at elevated temperatures.
This test determines if the wire insulation can withstand a temperature aging test for a time period at a temperature greater than the temperature rating of the insulation. The wire must then withstand the bend and wet dielectric tests after the thermal exposure in order to pass. The purpose of the test is to ensure that the insulation will not fail if exposed to extreme heat which may occur while during flight. At the end of this test, we will know which specimens passed or failed by reporting the results of the bend and wet dielectric tests.
The heat distortion test evaluates the ability of an insulator or jacket to maintain its physical structure without deformation under elevated temperature conditions. Distortion of the insulation or outer jacket can create an uneven insulative surface on a conductor; areas with reduced insulation coverage are more susceptible to damage.
The heat resistance test evaluates the ability of an insulative sample to maintain tensile strength after undergoing an elevated temperature exposure.
The heat shock test evaluates the ability of an insulative material to endure elevated temperature conditions. Slight variations in test setup exist between the test standards covered by this listing and should be considered before choosing which standard best suits your needs.
This test examines a connector's resistance to corrosion, and entrance of moisture, long-term durability in high moisture environments. This test method identifies several means of testing a connector in humid conditions.
Through the service life of an aircraft there are thousands of electrical thermal cycles. Those connectors subjected to external conditions maybe become icy during flight. This ice resistance test examines a connector's performance in icy conditions.
The ASTM B267provides requirements and suggestions in the use of insulated wire coverings such as silk, nylon, cotton, and glass which can be verified at Lectromec.
This test is to be used to evaluate the cross-linking of certain types of wire insulation.
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 indicator of insulation deterioration.
The insulation shrinkage test objective is to evaluate a wire/cable’s insulation propensity for shrinkage with exposure to elevated temperature.
This test provides tensile property data on extruded electrical wire insulation removed from the wire/cable specimen. Identifying the insulation's tensile properties are useful to determine the ability to withstand mechanical stresses the wire/cable may experience in service conditions.
The life cycle test (also referred to as the 'Multi-day heat aging test') seeks to assess short-term elevated temperature exposure to a wire/cable above the sample's temperature rating.
The overload resistance test, also known as the smoke resistance test, is designed to examine the durability of the wire insulation under extended periods of internal heating caused by over-current conditions.
The property retention test evaluates the mechanical properties of a specimen of finished insulated wire before and after 1000 hours of thermal aging.
The Rapid Change of Temperature test evaluates the ability to withstand a series of rapid temperature changes without diminishing its performance.
The chemical composition of a wire's insulation degrades at elevated temperature; this test provides data to establish curves describing the rate of degradation with respect to the exposure temperature.
For several applications, it is necessary to have a conductive connector shell. For example, harnesses that contain EMI sensitive circuitry are typically shielded and need good grounding and EMI protection as the signals pass through connectors.
This standardized test method is used to determine the specific optical density of smoke emitted by solid materials and assemblies during exposure to a controlled radiant heat source.
The smoke resistance test places a high current through the wire/cable to determine if the insulation/jacket will produce smoke. The current is increased on the specimen until the conductor temperature reaches the rated insulation temperature.
The Solder Contacts test as defined in MIL-DTL-26482 follows the procedure of a Solderability test in accordance with MIL-STD-202 but with a few different requirements.
The thermal endurance (or high temperature endurance) test determines the ability of the insulation of a firezone or similar wire to resist degradation due to exposure to high temperature.
The thermal index test (also known as the Relative Thermal Life and Temperature Index) is based on multiple cycles of elevated temperature exposure, mechanical stressing, and electrical insulation integrity checks. The goal of this test is to determine the maximum continuous operational temperature for the wire/cable for a targeted time interval (the common goal for aerospace wires is to find the maximum continuous temperature for 10,000 hours of operation). This is achieved with long-term exposure to temperatures above this desired temperature rating.
Temperature cycling can cause rapid degradation of wire/cable insulation integrity. This can manifest and insulation splits, cracks, and/or delamination. Often an overlooked test method for assessment, the thermal shock test proves and excellent means of assessing the construction quality of a wire or cable.
The thermal shock test is applicable to hermetically sealed connectors. The connector undergoes successive cycles consisting of times submersed in hot and cold water baths. After cycling is complete the connectors are dried in a forced air oven, and to pass the examination, the connector must have sustained no damage detrimental to the operation of the connector.
This test evaluates the radial shrinkage of a heat shrink insulation sample to ensure the insulation shrinks to the appropriate dimensions as identified in the detail specification.
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 case of tape wrapped insulations). The insulation integrity is then examined with a wet dielectric test.