Two Test Methodologies for Evaluating the Resistance to Electrical Arcing Properties of Polymeric Materials for use in Automotive 42 V Applications

The automotive industry is making a transition from 12 to 36 volt electrification systems requiring a 42 volt battery charging system. This higher DC voltage is capable of producing more pronounced arcing when interrupting electrical connections and at component contacts. This paper describes the development of two new test methodologies specifically designed to evaluate the arc ignition properties of polymeric materials used in 42 V automotive applications. The first test is a DC Comparative Tracking Index (DC-CTI) Test. The second test is the DC High-Current Arc Ignition (DC-HAI) Test.