Electrical Testing Services

Scope

Electrical testing covers the determination of electrical properties of insulating and semi-conductive materials and the electrical safety verification of components and finished products, using standardized test methods.

Key tests within the scope include:

• Dielectric strength – the voltage per unit thickness at which an insulating material breaks down under an applied electric field (ASTM D149); short-time and step-by-step procedures
• Volume and surface resistivity – resistance to current flow through (volume) and across the surface of (surface) an insulating material (ASTM D257)
• Dielectric constant and dissipation factor – the material’s ability to store and dissipate energy in an electric field (ASTM D150), important for signal integrity and insulation loss
• Comparative tracking index (CTI) – resistance of a solid insulating material to surface tracking under electrical stress in the presence of a contaminant solution (ASTM D3638 / IEC 60112)
• Dielectric withstand / hipot test – applying a high voltage to a finished product to confirm its insulation withstands the test voltage without breakdown
• Insulation resistance – measuring the resistance of insulation between conductors or between a conductor and ground, confirming adequate isolation
• Ground continuity and leakage current – verifying that safety grounding is intact and that leakage current is within the safe limit for a product
• Applicable standards – ASTM D149, D257, D150, D3638; IEC 60243, IEC 60112; IEC 60950/62368 and UL product safety standards for equipment testing

Applications

• Insulating material characterization – determining the dielectric strength, resistivity, and dielectric constant of polymers, ceramics, laminates, films, and other electrical insulating materials
• Cable and wire insulation – verifying that insulation materials meet the dielectric and resistivity requirements for cable and wire applications
• Printed circuit board materials – characterizing the dielectric constant and loss tangent of PCB laminates that affect signal integrity
• Electrical equipment and appliances – hipot, insulation resistance, ground continuity, and leakage-current testing for product safety verification
• Medical devices – electrical safety testing of medical electrical equipment per IEC 60601 and related standards
• Incoming material QC – verifying that incoming insulating materials meet their electrical property specifications before use in production
• Comparative tracking index – qualifying insulating materials for equipment where tracking and creepage are safety concerns

Benefits

• Verifies both materials and products – the same electrical testing capability addresses material dielectric properties and finished-product safety, covering the full development and production chain
• Identifies insulation failures before field deployment – dielectric strength and hipot testing reveal insulation weaknesses before a product reaches the customer, preventing electrical failures and safety incidents
• Quantifies key insulation properties – resistivity, dielectric strength, and dissipation factor give objective, comparable data for insulating material selection and quality control
• Supports product safety standards – hipot, insulation resistance, and leakage-current testing provide the evidence needed for product safety qualification under IEC, UL, and equivalent standards
• CTI supports creepage/clearance design – comparative tracking index data informs the creepage and clearance decisions required in equipment design under IEC 60664 and similar standards
• Applicable across industries – the same core electrical testing capability serves electronics, cable, appliances, medical devices, aerospace, and automotive