This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D5222 − 23

Standard Specification for

Less Flammable High Molecular Weight Hydrocarbon
Mineral Electrical Insulating Liquids1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5222; 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 epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-

1.1 This specification describes a less flammable mineral dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
electrical insulating liquid, for use as a dielectric and cooling ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
medium in new and existing power and distribution electrical Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
apparatus, such as transformers and switchgear. mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 Less flammable insulating liquid differs from conven-
tional mineral insulating liquid by possessing a fire-point of at 2. Referenced Documents
least 300 °C. This property is necessary in order to comply 2.1 ASTM Standards:3
with certain application requirements of the National Electrical D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
Code (Article 450-23) or other agencies. The material dis- Open Cup Tester
cussed in this specification is miscible with other petroleum D97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products
based insulating liquids. Mixing less flammable liquids with D117 Guide for Sampling, Test Methods, and Specifications
lower fire point hydrocarbon insulating liquids (for example, for Electrical Insulating Liquids
Specification D3487 mineral liquid) may result in fire points of D445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
less than 300 °C. and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscos-
1.3 This specification is intended to define a less flammable ity)
electrical mineral insulating liquid that is compatible with D664 Test Method for Acid Number of Petroleum Products
typical material of construction of existing apparatus and will by Potentiometric Titration
satisfactorily maintain its functional characteristic in this D923 Practices for Sampling Electrical Insulating Liquids
application. The material described in this specification may D924 Test Method for Dissipation Factor (or Power Factor)
not be miscible with electrical insulating liquids of non- and Relative Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Electri-
petroleum origin. The user should contact the manufacturer of cal Insulating Liquids
the less flammable insulating liquid for guidance in this D971 Test Method for Interfacial Tension of Insulating
respect. Liquids Against Water by the Ring Method
1.4 This specification applies only to new electrical insulat- D974 Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color-
ing liquid as received prior to any processing. Information on Indicator Titration
in-service maintenance testing is available in appropriate D1275 Test Method for Corrosive Sulfur in Electrical Insu-
guides.2 The user should contact the manufacturers of the lating Liquids
equipment or liquid if questions of recommended characteris- D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API
tics or maintenance procedures arise. Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Prod-
ucts by Hydrometer Method
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as D1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this (ASTM Color Scale)
standard. D1524 Test Method for Visual Examination of Used Elec-
trical Insulating Liquids in the Field
D1533 Test Method for Water in Insulating Liquids by
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D27 on Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration
Electrical Insulating Liquids and Gases and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
mittee D27.01 on Mineral.
3
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published February 2023. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D5222 – 16. DOI: contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
10.1520/D5222-23. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
2
Refer to IEEE C57.121. the ASTM website.

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

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 D5222 − 23
D1816 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage of TABLE 1 Property Requirements
Insulating Liquids Using VDE Electrodes Property Limit
ASTM Test
D2112 Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Inhibited Method

Mineral Insulating Oil by Pressure Vessel Physical:

Visual examination Bright and clear D1524
D2300 Test Method for Gassing of Electrical Insulating Color, ASTM units, max 2.5 D1500
Liquids Under Electrical Stress and Ionization (Modified Fire point, min, °C 300 D92
Pirelli Method) Flash point, min, °C 275 D92
Interfacial tension, min, mN/m 40 D971
D2440 Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Mineral Pour point, max °C −21 D97 or D5949 or
Insulating Oil D5950A
D2668 Test Method for 2,6-di-tert-Butyl- p-Cresol and 2,6- Relative density, 15/15 °C, max 0.91 D1298 or D4052B
Viscosity, max, mm2/s at: D445 or D7042
di-tert-Butyl Phenol in Electrical Insulating Oil by Infra- 100 °C 14
red Absorption 40 °C 130
0 °C 2500
D2864 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulating Liq-
Electrical:
uids and Gases Dielectric breakdown voltage at 60 Hz D1816
D3487 Specification for Mineral Insulating Oil Used in VDE electrodes, min kV at:
C
1 mm gap 20
Electrical Apparatus 2 mm gap 35C
D4052 Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API
Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter Gassing tendency, max, µL/minute +30 D2300
D4059 Test Method for Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphe- Dissipation factor at 60 Hz, max, % D924
nyls in Insulating Liquids by Gas Chromatography 25 °C 0.05
D4768 Test Method for Analysis of 2,6-Ditertiary-Butyl 100 °C 0.30
Chemical:
Para-Cresol and 2,6-Ditertiary-Butyl Phenol in Insulating Corrosive sulfur non-corrosive D1275
Liquids by Gas Chromatography Acid number, max, mg KOH/g 0.03 D664 or D974
D5949 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products Water content, max, mg/kg 35 D1533
Oxidation stabilityD , 72 h: D2440
(Automatic Pressure Pulsing Method) sludge, max % by mass 0.1
D5950 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products acid number, max, mg KOH/g 0.3
(Automatic Tilt Method) Oxidation stabilityD , 164 h
sludge, max, % by mass 0.2
D7042 Test Method for Dynamic Viscosity and Density of acid number, max, mg KOH/g 0.4
Liquids by Stabinger Viscometer (and the Calculation of
Kinematic Viscosity) Oxidation stability (pressure vessel test), 195 D2112
min, minutesD
2.2 National Fire Protection Association Standards: Oxidation inhibitor content, max, % by 0.40 D2668 or D4768
National Electrical Code, Article 450-234 mass
2.3 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Stan- PCB content, mg/kg non-detectable D4059
A
dard: B
In case of a dispute, Test Method D97 shall be used as the referee method.
In case of a dispute, Test Method D1298 shall be used as the referee method.
C57.121 Guide for Acceptance and Maintenance of Less- C
These test limits by Test Method D1816 are applicable only to as received
Flammable Hydrocarbon Fluid in Transformers5 unused liquids.
D
The values for oxidation tests are typical requirements expected from type II
3. Terminology liquid (according to Specification D3487). All of the commercially available less
flammable insulating liquids contain # 0.4 % antioxidant.
3.1 Definitions of terms related to this specification are
given in Terminology D2864. Significance of tests related to
this specification can be found in Guide D117 and Specifica-
NOTE 1—Because of the different needs of various users, items relating
tion D3487. to packaging, labeling, and inspection are considered to be subject to
supplier-user agreement.
4. Sampling and Testing NOTE 2—In addition to all other tests listed herein, it is sound
4.1 Take all liquid samples in accordance with Practices engineering practice for the apparatus manufacturer to perform an
evaluation of insulating liquids in insulation systems, prototype structures,
D923.
or full-scale apparatus, or any combination thereof, to ensure suitable
4.2 Perform each test in accordance with the ASTM test service life.
method specified in Table 1.
5. Property Requirements
4.3 Make known to the user the generic type and amount of
any additive used, for assessing any potential detrimental 5.1 Less flammable mineral insulating liquid, as received,
reaction with other materials in contact with the oil. shall conform to the requirements of Table 1. The significance
of these properties is covered in Guide D117.
4
Available from the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, 6. Keywords
Quincy, MA 02269.
5
Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), 6.1 electrical insulating liquid; fire point; flammability;
445 Hoes Ln., Piscataway, NJ 08854-4141, http://www.ieee.org. insulating liquid; mineral insulating liquid

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 D5222 − 23
ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

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