IEC 60112  Tracking Indices Test Machine

Product introduce

The ‌IEC60112 Tracking Resistance Tester‌ is a precision instrument designed to evaluate the electrical insulation properties of materials under wet and contaminated conditions. It complies with key international standards such as ‌IEC 60112:2020‌, ‌UL 746A‌, and ‌ASTM D3638‌, measuring the Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) and Proof Tracking Index (PTI) of insulating materials like plastics, ceramics, and PCB substrates. The tester features platinum electrodes, controlled droplet application (0.1% NH₄Cl solution), and adjustable voltage (100-600V) to simulate real-world electrical stress, ensuring reliable safety assessments for electrical components, household appliances, and industrial equipment.

Standard

‌1. Core standards‌

‌IEC 60112‌

The latest version is IEC 60112:2020 (corresponding to GB/T 4207-2022), which specifies the determination methods of the tracking resistance index (PTI) and comparative tracking index (CTI) of solid insulating materials, covering key technical requirements such as electrode size, droplet parameters (such as 0.1% NH₄Cl solution), and voltage range (100-600V).

‌2. Related international standards‌

‌IEC 587‌ (inclined plate method)

It is used to evaluate the tracking resistance and corrosion of insulating materials in harsh environments, which complements IEC 60112 (drop method).

‌UL 746A‌

American standard for leakage performance testing of plastic materials, including tracking resistance requirements.

‌ASTM D 3638-92‌

American Society for Testing and Materials standard, involving the test method for surface tracking of insulating materials.

‌DIN 53480‌

German standard, similar to IEC 60112 test principle, applicable to the European market‌.
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3. Other related standards‌

‌GB 4706.1-2008‌

Household appliance safety standard, citing IEC 60112 to test the performance of insulating materials under humid conditions‌.

GB/T 6553-2003‌

Equivalent to IEC 587, for tracking resistance test of insulating materials in harsh environments‌.

Note: The tester must meet the strict requirements of the above standards for parameters such as electrodes (platinum material, 5mm×2mm), droplet control (30s/drop), and short-circuit current (1.0A±0.1A).

Application

The test materials applicable to the IEC60112 tracking tester mainly include the following categories:

1.Insulating materials: such as engineering plastics (PA66, polyvinyl chloride PC, etc.), silicone rubber, cured materials and insulators, etc., used to evaluate their tracking resistance under the action of electric fields and electrolytes.

2.Electronic components: including printed circuit materials such as PCB boards and aluminum substrates, testing their electrical safety in humid and polluted environments.

3.Electrical components: covering insulating components of household appliances, low-voltage electrical appliances, power tools, motors and other products, ensuring that they meet safety standards (such as GB 4706.1).

4.Industrial materials: such as insulating accessories of equipment such as machine tool electrical appliances and safety busbars, their long-term reliability needs to be verified by CTI/PTI index.

5.Other special materials: including non-metallic materials such as glass and plastic films, which also need to be tested if used in electrical insulation scenarios.

6.During testing, ensure that the material thickness is ≥3mm and the surface is flat (size ≥15×15mm) to avoid deviations caused by electrolyte loss or excessive heat dissipation.

Structural features:

1. The combustion box is painted; beautiful and corrosion-resistant; all sample racks are made of stainless steel;

2. The equipment consists of a voltmeter, an ammeter, a time-delay overcurrent relay, a power supply, a circuit control system, a button switch, a signal light, etc.

3. The automatic dripping device includes a dripping cylinder, a dripping nozzle, a counting device, a dripping counting device, a dripping control device, a dripping volume measuring tool, etc.

4. The drip nozzle device is adjustable; the height is adjusted to 30-40mm; ensure that the dripping position is between the two electrodes;

5. The electrode device includes a platinum electrode, an electrode fixing device, a 4mm gauge, etc. The electrode is adjustable and detachable;

6. The electrode is 5mm wide and 2mm thick, 99.9% pure platinum, and has a 30~60 degree tip.

7. The pressure of the electrode on the sample is adjustable, the adjustment range is (1.00N±0.001N); the electrode distance is 4.0mm±0.01mm, and the angle is 60°±5°;

8. Equipped with a sample table;

9. Equipped with a glass plate: thickness ≥4mm.

Safety control system:

1. Test voltage: 0~600V continuously adjustable digital display, the maximum error of the voltage meter display value: 1%;

2. Short-circuit current: (1±0.1)?A, the voltage drop value does not exceed 10%;

3. If the test current exceeds 0.5A for more than 2 seconds, the system automatically shuts down the equipment;

4. Safety door control system, when the door is opened, the test system cannot work;

5. Electrode: A pair of 5mm×2mm rectangular platinum electrodes and brass electrodes, which meet the size requirements of IEC60112 Figure

B.1;

6. Electrode: The angle between the electrodes is 60°±5°, and the spacing is (4±0.1mm);

7. Electrode: The pressure on the sample is: 1.00N±0.05N;

8. Dropping system: (30±1) seconds (opening dripping time 29.8S + opening dripping duration 0.2S) automatic counting, digital display (presettable), 50 drops time: (24.5±2)?min;

9. Dropping system: The height from the needle tip of a drop to the sample surface: 35mm±5mm (with a gauge for reference);

10. Dropping system: Dropping weight: 2 0 drops: 0.380g~0.489g, 50 drops: 0.?997g~1.?147g; the number of drops can be set from 1 to 9999;

11. PLC and touch screen intelligent control system, test data is automatically recorded, automatically stored, and can be freely retrieved;

12. Using access control circuit, the test circuit cannot be started when the door is opened.

Technical parameters:

Necessary accessories (provided by the customer):

1. Conductivity meter.

2. Electronic balance: accuracy 0.001g, range 200g.

3. Depth gauge: The diameter of the hemispherical end of the probe is 1mm, the resolution is at least 0.1mm, and the accuracy is ±0.1mm.