Designation: D 6871 – 03

Standard Specification for

Natural (Vegetable Oil) Ester Fluids Used in Electrical
Apparatus1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6871; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of 
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Sco
Scope
pe tions for Electrical Insulating Oils of Petroleum Origin 4
1.1 This specificati
specificationon covers a high fire point natural veg- D 445 TeTest
st Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent Transparent
etable oil est
etable ester
er ins
insula
ulatin
ting
g flui
fluid
d for use as a die dielec
lectr
tric
ic and and Opaque Liquids (the Calculation of Dynamic Viscos-
cooling medium in new and existing power and distribution ity)3
electrical apparatus such as transformers and attendant equip- D 877 Test Meth
Methodod for Diele
Dielectri
ctricc Break
Breakdown
down Voltaoltage
ge of 
ment. Insulating Liquids Using Disk Electrodes 4
1.2 Natur
Natural
al veget
vegetable
able oil ester insulating
insulating fluid dif differs
fers from D 923 Practices for Sampling Insulating Liquids 4
Sampling Electrical Insulating
conventional mineral oil and other high fire point (or “less- D 924 TeTest
st Method for Dissipation
Dissipation Factor (or Power Factor)
flammable”) fluids in that it is an agricultural product derived and Relative Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Electri-
from vegetable oils rather than refined from petroleum base cal Insulating Liquids 4
stocks or synthesized from organic precursors. D 974
974 Test Method for Acid and Base Numb Number er by Color
Color--
1.3 This specificati
specificationon is inten
intended
ded to define a naturnatural
al veg- Indicator Titration 3
etable oil ester electrical insulating fluid that is compatible with D 127
12755 Test MetMethod
hod for Cor Corros
rosive
ive Sul
Sulfur
fur in EleElectr
ctrica
icall
typical materials of construction of existing apparatus and will Insulating Oils 4
satisf
sat isfact
actori
orily
ly mai
mainta
ntain
in its fun
functi
ctiona
onall cha
charac
racter
terist
istic
ic in thi
thiss D 129
12988 Pra
Practi
ctice
ce for DenDensit
sity
y, Rel
Relati
ative
ve Den
Densit
sity
y (Sp
(Speciecific
fic
application. The material described in this specification may Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid
not be mis miscib
cible
le wit
withh som
somee syn
synthe
thetic
tic ele
electr
ctrica
icall ins
insula
ulatin
ting
g Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method 3
liquids. The user should contact the manufacturer of the natural D 1500
1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Petroleum Prod-
3
ester insulating fluid for guidance in this respect. ucts (ASTM Color Scale)
1.4 This specification applies
applies only to new insulating
insulating fluid as D 1524 Test Method for VisualVisual Examination
Examination of Used Elec-
received prior to any processing. The user should contact the trical Insulating Oils of Petroleum Origin in the Field 4
manufacturer of the equipment or fluid if questions of recom- D 1533 Test Meth
Methodsods for Water
Water in Insu Insulati
lating
ng Liqui
Liquidsds by
4
mended characteristics or maintenance procedures arise. Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration
1.5   This sta
standa
ndardrd does not purport
purport to addaddrress all of the D 1816 Test Metho
Method d for Diel
Dielectr
ectricic Break
Breakdown
down Voltag
Voltagee of 
safe
sa fety
ty co
conc
ncererns
ns,, if an
anyy, as
asso
soci
ciat
ated
ed wiwith
th it
itss us
use.
e. It is ththee Insula
Ins ulatin
ting
g Oil
Oilss of Pet
Petrol
roleum
eum Ori Origin
gin Usi
Using
ng VDE Ele Elec-
c-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- trodes4
 priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- D 1903 Test Method for Coef Coeffic
ficient
ient of Thermal Expansion
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use. of Electrical Insulating Liquids of Petroleum Origin, and
Askarels4
2. Referenced Documents D 230
23000 Test MetMethod
hod for GasGassinsing g of InsInsula
ulati
ting
ng Liq
Liquid
uidss
2.1   ASTM Standards: Under Elec
Electric
trical
al Stre
Stress
ss and Ioni
Ionizatio
zationn (Mod
(Modified
ified Pirel
Pirelli
li
4
D 88 Test Method for Saybo
Saybolt Viscosity2
lt Viscosity Method)
D 92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
Cleveland D 2717 Test Method for Therm Thermal al Conductivity
Conductivity of LiquiLiquidsds 3
Open Cup3 D 27
2766
66 Test
Test MeMeththod
od foforr Sp
Spec
ecifi
ificc HeHeatat of LiLiququid
idss an
and
d
D 97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petro
Petroleum Products 3
leum Products Solids3
D 117 Guide for Samp
Sampling,
ling, Test
Test Metho
Methods,
ds, and Speci
Specifica-
fica- D 2864 Termi
erminolog
nology y Rela
Relating
ting to Elec
Electric
trical
al Insu
Insulati
lating
ng Liq-
uids and Gases 4
D 3300 Test Metho
Method d for Diel
Dielectr
ectricic Break
Breakdown
down Voltag
Voltagee of 
Insulating Oils of Petroleum Origin Under Impulse Con-
1
Thiss spec
Thi specifica
ification
tion is und
under
er the jur
jurisd
isdicti
iction
on of ASTM Com
Committ
mittee
ee D27 on ditions4
Electrical Insulating Liquids and Gases and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
mittee D27.02 on Gases and Synthetic Liquids.
Current edition approved July 10, 2003. Published August 2003.
2
Standardss , Vol 04.04.
 Annual Book of ASTM Standard
3 4
Standardss , Vol 05.01.
 Annual Book of ASTM Standard Standards, Vol 10.03.
 Annual Book of ASTM Standards,

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 6871 – 03
TABLE 1 As-Received New Fluid Property Requirements
Property Limit ASTM Test Method
Physical: 
Color, max 1.0 D 1500
Fire point, min, °C 300 D 92
Flash point, min, °C 275 D 92
Pour point, max, °C −10 D 97
Relative density (specific gravity) 15°C/15°C, max 0.96 D 1298
Viscosity, max, cSt at: D 445 or D 88
100°C (212°F) 15
40°C (104°F) 50
0°C (32°F) 500
Visual Examination Bright and Clear D 1524
Electrical: 
Dielectric breakdown voltage at 60 Hz
Disk electrodes, min, kV 30 D 877
VDE electrodes, min, kV at: D 1816
1 mm (0.04 in.) gap 20
2 mm (0.08 in.) gap 35
Dielectric breakdown voltage, impulse conditions 130 D 3300
25°C, min, kV, needle negative to sphere grounded,
1 in. (25.4 mm) gap
Dissipation factor (or power factor) at 60 Hz, max, % D 924
25°C 0.20
100°C 4.0
Gassing tendency, max, µl/min 0 D 2300
Chemical: 
Corrosive sulfur not corrosive D 1275
Neutralization number, total acid number, max, 0.06 D 974
mg KOH/g
PCB content, ppm not detectable D 4059
Water, max, mg/kg 200 D 1533A
A
As stated in Test Methods D 1533 Annex A1 “Alternative Solvent Systems,” alternate reagents may be needed for certain natural ester formulations. Consult the
manufacturer for recommendations. Reagents for aldehydes and ketones (such as Coulomat AK and CG-K) should be used if the additives are unknown. When alternate
reagents are needed, using the Test Methods D 1533 reagents may yield elevated and erratic water content results.

D 4059 Test Method for Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphe- 4. Sampling and Testing
nyls in Insulating Liquids by Gas Chromatography 4 4.1 Take all fluid samples in accordance with Test Methods
2.2 National Fire Protection Association Standard: D 923.
National Electrical Code Article 450-235 4.2 Perform each test in accordance with the ASTM test
method specified in Table 1.
3. Terminology
5. Property Requirements
3.1   Definitions—Definitions of terms related to this speci-
fication are given in Terminology D 2864. Vegetable oil natural 5.1 Natural ester insulating fluid, as received, shall conform
ester: vegetable oil containing ester linkages, typically triglyc- to the requirements of Table 1. The significance of these
erides. Most often obtained from seed crops (a “natural” source properties is covered in Guide D 117 and Appendixes X2.1-
of esters, as opposed to synthesized esters). X2.3.
6. Keywords
6.1 electrical insulating fluid; fire point; flammability; insu-
5
 National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, National Fire Protection Association Inc. lating fluid; natural ester

2
 D 6871 – 03
APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. SUPPLEMENTARY DESIGN INFORMATION

X1.1 The following values are typical for natural ester   ASTM
Property Typical Values
insulating fluids. Test Method

  ASTM Specific Heat, cal/g, 20°C 0.45 to 0.60 D 2766

Property Typical Values Thermal Conductivity, 0.00035 to D 2717
Test Method
(cal/cm· s·°C) 0.00045
Coefficient of Expansion, °C-1 0.0007 to 0.0008 D 1903
Dielectric Constant, 25°C 3.1 to 3.3 D 924

X2. SIGNIFICANCE OF PROPERTIES PARTICULAR TO NATURAL ESTER INSULATING OIL

NOTE   X2.1—The significance of common electrical insulating fluid X2.3 Chemical Properties
properties not listed here may be found in Guide D 117.
X2.3.1   Water Content —A low water content of natural ester
insulating fluid is necessary to achieve adequate electrical
X2.1 Physical Properties
strength and low dielectric loss characteristics, to maximize the
X2.1.1   Aniline Point —The aniline point of natural ester insulation system life, and to minimize metal corrosion.
insulating fluids vary dramatically from source to source. The Reagents for aldehydes and ketones should be used. The
variation is such that the aniline point may not be a dependable standard reagents for mineral oil may yield both elevated and
indicator of solvency of some materials in natural ester erratic results. The amount of water required to saturate natural
insulating fluids. ester insulating fluid at room temperature is roughly 20 times
X2.1.2   Interfacial Tension —Interfacial tension performance that of mineral insulating oil. Comparisons to mineral insulat-
criteria are being assessed; therefore, requirements have not ing oil should be made on a percent saturation (relative
been established. Interfacial tension of new natural ester saturation) basis rather than using absolute water content.
insulating fluids, typically in the 26 to 30 mN/m range, is lower X2.3.2  Neutralization Number —A low total acid content of 
than that of new mineral oil. a natural ester insulating fluid is necessary to minimize
electrical conduction and metal corrosion and to maximize the
X2.1.3   Pour Point — The pour point of a natural ester
life of the insulation system. The neutralization numbers
insulating fluid is important as an index of the lowest tempera-
typical of natural ester insulating fluids are usually higher than
ture to which the material may be cooled without seriously
those of mineral insulating oils. Natural ester insulating oils
limiting the degree of circulation. Some natural ester fluids are
tend to form long-chain fatty acids. Mineral insulating oils tend
sensitive to prolonged storage at low temperatures, and their
to form shorter chain organic acids.
pour points may not adequately predict their low temperature
X2.3.3   Oxidation Inhibitor Content —The oxidation inhibi-
flow properties.
tor additives that may be present in natural ester insulating
fluids vary by manufacturer. The manufacturer should be
X2.2 Electrical Properties
contacted to obtain information and recommended analysis
X2.2.1   Dissipation Factor —Dissipation factor (power fac- methods for additives.
tor) is a measure of the dielectric losses in fluid. A low X2.3.4   Oxidation Stability—Oxidation stability require-
dissipation factor indicates low dielectric losses and a low level ments and appropriate test methods for natural ester insulating
of soluble contaminants. Natural ester insulating fluids usually fluids have not been established. Oxidation stability perfor-
have higher dissipation factors than mineral insulating oils, mance criteria are being assessed, and may differ for sealed
especially at elevated temperatures. systems, conservators, and free-breathing apparatus.

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