ASTM_F_1236_-_15.pdf

Designation:F123615Standard Guide forVisual Inspection of Electrical Protective Rubber Products1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1236;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 The purpose of this guide is to present methods andtechniques for the visual inspection of electrical protectiverubber products.This guide also includes descriptions andphotographs of irregularities found in these products.NOTE1It is not the purpose of this guide to establish the acceptancelevel of any irregularity described herein.That shall be established by thestandard for each product.1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F496 Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Glovesand SleevesF819 Terminology Relating to Electrical Protective Equip-ment for Workers3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 abrasions and scratchessurface damage that nor-mally occurs when a product makes contact with an abrasivesurface(see Fig.1 and Fig.2).3.1.1.1 DiscussionScuff-like damage can also occur froma brush contact with a hot object such as a soldering iron.Thiscan sometimes look like the graining on leather.3.1.2 age crackssurface cracks that may look like thecrazing of glazed ceramics and become progressively worsewith time(see Fig.3).3.1.2.1 DiscussionIt is normally a slow oxidation processcaused by exposure to sunlight and ozone in the atmosphereand starts in areas of the rubber that are under stress.3.1.3 breakdownthe electrical discharge or arc occurringbetween the electrodes and through the equipment being tested(see Fig.4,Fig.5 and Fig.6).3.1.4 chemical blooma white or yellowish discolorationon the surface of a rubber product caused by the migration tothe surface of chemical additives used in the manufacture ofthe finished product(see Fig.7).3.1.5 color splasha spot or blotch on the surface of arubber product that occurred during the manufacturing processwhen a contrasting colored particle of unvulcanized rubberbecame embedded into the finished product(see Fig.8).3.1.6 cuts smooth incisions in the surface of the rubberthat are usually caused by a sharp-edged object that canincrease in size when they are placed under strain(see Fig.9).3.1.7 depressions or indentationsa shallow recess in thesurface of the rubber that exhibits a thinner rubber thickness atthe bottom of the depression than in the surrounding areas(seeFig.10).3.1.8 detergent cracks cracks that appear on the insidesurface of a glove or sleeve that encircle the outline of a spotof detergent residue that was not removed during the cleaningand rinsing of the form prior to the dipping process.3.1.9 embedded foreign mattera particle of non-rubbermaterial that has been molded into the finished product andmay appear as a bump when the rubber is stretched(see Fig.11).3.1.10 form marksa raised or indented section on thesurface of the rubber that was caused by an irregularity in theform.3.1.11 hard spota hardened area on the rubber surface thatis usually caused by exposure to high heat or chemical attack(see Figs.12-15).3.1.12 mold marksa raised or indented section on thesurface of the rubber that was caused by an irregularity in themold(see Figs.16 and 17).3.1.13 nicks,snags,or scratchesangular tears,notches,orchip-like injuries in the surface of the rubber that have been1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on ElectricalProtective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF18.60 on Terminology.Current edition approved April 1,2015.Published May 2015.Originallyapproved in 1989.Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F1236 14.DOI:10.1520/F1236-15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 caused by barbed wire,sharp pointed tools,staples,splinters orsimilar sharp edged hazards(see Fig.2,Fig.18,and Fig.19).3.1.14 ozone cracksa series of interlacing cracks that maystart at stress points and quickly worsen as a result of rapidoxidation in a high