Ranking of Wire Insulation for Spacecraft Use

• Published in: High performance polymers Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. S517 - S524
• Main Authors: Hoertz, Frank, Koenig, Dieter, Hanson, Josef, Van Eesbeek, Marc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2001
• ISSN: 0954-0083
• DOI: 10.1177/095400830101300324

Insulated wires are important for the reliable supply of electrical energy in aircraft and spacecraft applications. Damage to the wire insulation in the electrical network can lead to a high-current arc burning between the metal conductors of the wire, which may cause a breakdown of the whole electrical system. In the past, numerous fault arc tests on insulated wires for space application have been performed at Darmstadt University of Technology, High Voltage Laboratory (TUD/HVL) in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC). Based on these studies a test proposal was prepared and is discussed in relevant standardization organizations up to the present time. This proposal is referred to as the aadvanced fault arc resistance testa Proposal International Standard 1998 Space systemsaarc tracking test, cables and wires: advanced fault arc resistance test ISO/TC20/SC14/WG 1, 14N118. The insulated wires are tested under different stress and environmental conditions.