Tracking Resistance of Insulating Tapes for Taped-Type Terminations

Nineteen commercial tapes used for covering insulation in terminations were tested for tracking resistance. Accelerated test results are given for dust-and-fog, endurance wheel, and dip-track tests. While all tests rated classes of materials in the same order, correlation of ratings of individual tapes proved difficult. Vinyls readily tracked, polyethylenes and butyls were more resistant, and silicone rubbers showed least tendency to track.