Development and analysis of insulation constructions for aerospace wiring applications
Abstract
The Wright Laboratory Materials Directorate at WPAFB, Ohio recently completed a research and development program under contract with the McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Company, St. Louis, Missouri. Program objectives were to develop wire insulation performance requirements, evaluate candidate insulations, and prepare preliminary specification sheets on the most promising candidates. Aircraft wiring continues to be a high maintenance item and a major contributor to electrically-related aircraft mishaps. Mishap data on aircraft show that chafing of insulation is the most common mode of wire failure. Improved wiring constructions are expected to increase aircraft performance and decrease costs by reducing maintenance actions. In the laboratory program, new insulation constructions were identified that had overall improved performance in evaluation tests when compared to currently available MIL-W-81381 and MIL-W-22759 wiring. These insulations are principally aromatic polyimide and crosslinked ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), respectively. Candidate insulations identified in preliminary specification sheets were principally fluoropolymers with a polyimide inner layer. Examples of insulation properties evaluated included flammability, high temperature mechanical and electrical performance, fluid immersion, and susceptibility to arc propagation under applied power chafing conditions. Potential next generation wire insulation materials are also reviewed.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- March 1993
- Bibcode:
- 1993STIN...9410791S
- Keywords:
-
- Aircraft Accidents;
- Electrical Insulation;
- Flammability;
- High Temperature Tests;
- Water Immersion;
- Wiring;
- Ethylene;
- Fluoropolymers;
- Polyimides;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering