Overview
IEC 60672-2:1999, "Ceramic and glass insulating materials – Part 2: Methods of test", is an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard that specifies standardized test methods for ceramic, glass and glass‑ceramic materials intended for electrical insulation. The document defines how to prepare test pieces, the minimum number of specimens, and the procedures to measure mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. It is intended to give representative material data while noting that component geometry and processing can affect actual performance.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and test-piece preparation: Test pieces must be produced under conditions closely similar to manufacturing processes; method of forming and surface finish must be recorded. Results apply only to the prescribed test-piece shapes and numbers.
- Test methods covered (selected):
- Dye penetration (liquid absorption) to detect interconnected porosity and microcracks
- Bulk density and open (apparent) porosity
- Flexural strength (minimum 10 test pieces for flexural tests)
- Young’s modulus (modulus of elasticity)
- Mean coefficient of linear thermal expansion
- Specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity
- Resistance to thermal shock (e.g., 30 rod specimens)
- Glass transition temperature (for glass materials)
- Electric strength and withstand voltage
- Relative permittivity, dissipation factor, temperature coefficient of permittivity
- Volume resistivity
- Reporting requirements: Test reports must include laboratory ID, reference to IEC 60672-2, date, material identification (type, manufacturer, batch), test details, specimen shape/dimensions, individual results, arithmetic mean and standard deviation.
- Limitations and notes: The standard emphasizes that results from standard test pieces are a guide - final component behavior can differ due to thickness, shape, and tempering state (especially for thermally toughened glass).
Applications and who uses it
IEC 60672-2 is used by:
- Materials manufacturers to characterize and qualify ceramic and glass insulating materials.
- Test laboratories for standardized property measurement and certification.
- Design and reliability engineers in high‑voltage equipment, power transformers, bushings, insulators, capacitors and electronic components to select appropriate insulating materials.
- Standards and compliance teams preparing material specifications and conformity assessments.
Practical uses include verifying dielectric strength, thermal performance, mechanical durability and moisture/porosity resistance that influence product lifetimes and safety in electrical and electronic equipment.
Related standards
- IEC 60672-1: Definitions and classification (Part 1)
- IEC 60672-3: Specifications for individual materials (Part 3)
- Normative test references cited in the standard include IEC 60093 (volume resistivity), IEC 60243-1 (electric strength), IEC 60250 (permittivity/dissipation) and IEC 61006 (glass transition temperature).
Keywords: IEC 60672-2, ceramic insulating materials, glass insulating materials, methods of test, dielectric strength, thermal properties, flexural strength, permittivity, volume resistivity.
