Page 44 - ASEAN Chainflex Catalogue 2023

Test Test
methods Test methods | Fire tests methods

Safe cable selection – Test Specification Design

the different test methods Test of vertical flame propagation on a core, an insulated wire or a

cable, test method 1kW - flame with gas/air mixture

Sample length: 600mm
Burner: According to IEC 60332-1-1
Test temperature: 1kW flame
Position of the sample: Vertical
Position of the flame: 45° to the vertical
Flame duration:
See table below
The movements carried out by cables in industrial applications range from simple linear strokes to 6-axis robot Conditions: The damage or carbonisation must only
applications. Systematic, repeated series of tests under realistic conditions are essential in order to be able to predict IEC 60332-1-2 occur between 50mm and 500mm,
measured from the upper attachment point
the service life of cables.
On the following pages, igus provides an overview of the test methods that are used for chainflex cables, depending Flame duration
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on the requirements and the materials used. The tabular overview enables the speedy selection of cables that meet Outer diameter of the sample [mm] [s]
your requirements. <25 60
25-50 120
Fire tests (page 39-40) 50-75 240
Depending on the application and the place of use, there are different >75 480
requirements regarding the flame-retardant properties of a cable. To meet
this, igus offers a wide variety of tests in order to guarantee the product is
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appropriate.

Media tests (page 41) Testing vertical flame propagation of vertically arranged bundles of Max. 300mm
cables or insulated cables
Media resistance is a very important factor when selecting the optimum
jacket material. Due to the test series, the properties of the products are Sample length: 3,500mm
Flat burner
Burner:
clearly defined and, if the correct material is chosen, cost-intensive failures (Ribbon gas burner of American Gas
during operation can be avoided. Test temperature: Furnace Co.)
Given by the prescribed gas and air flow rate
Temperature tests (page 42) IEC 60332-3-22/-23/-24/-25 Position of the sample: Vertical
Position of the flame:
Horizontal
Near the respective temperature limits, moving cables can fail quickly with Flame duration: See table below
Conditions:
The burnt distance should not be more than
fractures in the jacket due to the molecular structure of the thermoplastic 2.5m from the lower end of the burner,
material used. As a result of multiple test series, igus has been able to unless otherwise specified in the relevant
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standards.
demonstrate that standards based tests do not provide enough adequate
information about the use of cables in energy chains as they do not replicate Regulation Flame duration
the real stresses and loads that cables are subjected to in the real world. IEC 60332-3-22 and -23 40 minutes
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Today, igus is the only manufacturer in the world, to supply cables with IEC 60332-3-24 and -25 20 minutes
tested jacket materials that are guaranteed to withstand the stresses of
movements in e-chains at the indicated ambient temperatures , because
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they have been tested under such real conditions.

Motion tests (page 43)
Though there are many test standards, none of today's standards specify UL 1581, § 1100 (FT2 Flame Test)
tests that can adequately verify the service life of a cable in an energy chain. Length of the sample: 250 – 300mm
In this regard, igus is the only manufacturer that has more than 30 years of Position of the sample: Horizontal
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20° to the vertical
Position of the flame:
experience testing cables in e-chains and performs the most FT2 Flame Test Flame duration: 30 seconds
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comprehensive range of dynamic cable tests in the world. This includes a Conditions: The burnt distance must not exceed
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large number of different test series. This overview shows the igus range of 100mm.
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basic tests for qualifying e-chain cables. Dripping material must not ignite the underlying cotton (B).

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