NOVA™ Technology: Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Module ......NOVA Technology: Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Module...

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NOVA™ Technology:

Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Module Environment Tests

Sales Class & Project No.: 003K91K041A Laboratory No.: ML 422-95-7

Date Written: 12/06/2002 Date Released: 12/16/2002

Study: 84-Month Desert/Tropical and 65-Month Coastal Outdoor Environment Testing of NOVA VCS Switch Units

Purpose/Material Tested: Determine how resistant the Cycloaliphatic Epoxy material, used in Cooper Power Systems Type NOVA modules, is tothe effects of actual outdoor weathering at the DSET Phoenix, AZ, Desert; DSET Miami, FL, Tropical; and LaQueCorrosion Services, Kure Beach, NC, Coastal test sites. The actual outdoor weathering exposure testing was conduct-ed according to the guidelines outlined in ASTM Standard Test Method G7.

Conclusion: After seven years of outdoor exposure at the DSET Phoenix, AZ and DSET Miami, FL test sites, the Cooper PowerSystems Type NOVA module cycloaliphatic epoxy of Type NOVA VCS Switch units have maintained good structuralintegrity. No crazing, cracking, or other forms of structural deterioration have been observed.

The original VCS Switch installed at the Kure Beach coastal test site was lost when Hurricane Fran struck the NorthCarolina coast in late August of 1996. The 58 and 65 month exposure of a second unit is included in this report. TheType NOVA module epoxy material is in excellent condition and still exhibits some slight gloss retention. No cracks, craz-ing, or other physical defects have developed on the surface of the NOVA epoxy.

The sample plates installed at the Cooper Power Systems Franksville Technical Center have become lighter in color andhave lost spectral gloss. None of these sample plates shows any signs of physical deterioration.

Background:A cycloaliphatic epoxy material is being used to encapsulate the interrupter of the Type NOVA VCS Switch Module. ThreeVCS units and 3" x 5" sample plates are being exposed to several outdoor environments to determine how the TypeNOVA module epoxy will perform.

Sample plates were installed in the test racks at the Cooper Power Systems Franksville Technical Center on October15, 1995. Three VCS Switch units were also supplied to the Franksville Technical Center. These units and sample plateswere shipped to outdoor test facilities for outdoor exposure testing.

Six plates and one unit were shipped to the DSET Miami, FL test site and installed in the test yard on August 31, 1995.A second unit along with six test plates were also shipped to the DSET Phoenix, AZ site and installed in the test yard onSeptember 14, 1995. Gloss and color evaluations were conducted on the plates and the units at six-month intervals.Four sample plates remain at each test site. Two plates were removed after the six-month and one-year exposure periodswere completed.

The third unit and set of test plates were sent to the LaQue Corrosion Services outdoor test site located at Kure Beach,NC and installed during September 1995. In late August of 1996, Hurricane Fran struck the North Carolina coast andthe VCS Switch and the plates were lost. A fourth unit was installed at Kure Beach on March 4, 1997 to continue thetesting of the Type NOVA module material at a Coastal location.

The following is a description of the three outdoor test sites:

Phoenix, Arizona (Atlas DSET Laboratories Inc.) - At the Phoenix test site, the test specimens are exposed to a severesunlight and thermal environment. This geographic location was used to expose the Type NOVA module epoxy to adesert environment common to the southwestern regions of the United States. The test plates were placed in unbackedracks facing south at a 45° angle to the ground, and the unit was placed on a metal support post.

Miami, Florida (Atlas DSET Laboratories Inc.) - The Florida test site is located about 30 miles southwest of Miami in anagricultural area, which provides a very sunny, humid, and hot environment. This site was used to expose the samplesto both the weathering conditions of the Florida sun and the corrosive high humidity conditions experienced in the south-eastern states. The plates were placed in unbacked racks at a 45° angle to the ground facing south and the VCS Switchwas mounted on a metal post.

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NOVA Technology: Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Module Environment Tests

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Kure Beach, North Carolina (LaQue Corrosion Services Inc.) 25 meter test site - The Kure Beach site is located on abarrier island just south of Wilmington, NC. This site is considered an extremely severe coastal installation. The VCSSwitch was mounted on a 4" x 4" wooden post 25 meters from the mean tide level.

Results and Discussion: After seven years of outdoor exposure at the DSET Phoenix, AZ and DSET Miami, FL test sites, the Cooper PowerSystems Type NOVA module epoxy of the VCS Switch units has maintained very good structural integrity. The switcheshave become much lighter in color. At the Phoenix site, the south exposure of the unit is lighter in color than the sur-faces facing north. However, after this seven-year exposure, only slight chalking has been detected on the surface ofthe plastic. At both the Phoenix and Miami test sites, the units have lost most of their original spectral gloss. Neither ofthe two units has developed any cracking, crazing, or other forms of physical defects. The original porosity on the skirtsof the Phoenix unit has not become any worse. The Miami, FL unit has developed some mildew and algae, which haspreviously been reported and does not appear to becoming worse. Photographs of these units have been attached tothis report.

The sample plates of the Type NOVA module material are reacting to the outdoor testing in a manner similar to the VCSSwitch units. At the Miami site, the plates have lost 94 percent of their original gloss. Significant color and appearancechanges have been reported at both test sites and slight chalking of the plates surfaces has been noted. However, nocrazing, cracking, or other physical defects have been observed, except for slight pitting in Phoenix. Photographs ofsome of these test plates have been included in this report. None of the sample plates has exhibited any signs of phys-ical deterioration.

The sample plates installed at the Franksville Technical Center have become lighter in color and have lost all spectralgloss. None of these sample plates shows any signs of physical deterioration.

The original VCS Switch installed at the Kure Beach coastal test site was lost when Hurricane Fran struck the NorthCarolina coast in late August of 1996. The photographs of the Kure Beach unit included in this report illustrate the 58and 65 month exposure of a second unit. The Type NOVA module epoxy material is in excellent condition and stillexhibits some slight gloss retention. No cracks, crazing, or other physical defects have developed on the surface of theplastic material. After 65 months of coastal exposure, the majority of the Type NOVA module epoxy is still in excellentcondition. The electrical connector at the top of the switch has turned green, probably a reaction with chlorine.

Data: See the attached tables and photographs.

Key Terms:

554 Weathering/Natural

982 Cooper Power/Kyle Plant

917 Recloser/Vacuum

1898 VCS Switch

1916 Recloser/Nova

SPECIMEN DATE TEST OBJECTIVEINSTALLED SITE

Material VCS Switch, September 1995 DSET Phoenix, AZ Desert

Sample Plates

Material VCS Switch, August 1995 DSET Miami, FL Tropical

Sample Plates

Material VCS Switch, March 1997 LaQue Corrosion Services Coastal

Sample Plates Kure Beach, NC

Material Sample Plates October 1995 Franksville Technical Center Seasonal

Franksville, WI

Table 1Summary of Installation Sites


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TYPE NOVA EPOXY SAMPLE PLATE OUTDOOR EXPOSURE TESTING

EXPOSURE GLOSS GENERAL COLOR CHECKING CRACKINGTIME K1/K2/K3 APPEARANCE CHANGE

Initial . . . . . . . . .48/45/50

6 Month . . . . . . . .47/42/47 . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

12 Month . . . . . . .41/34/45 . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

18 Month . . . . . . .37/27/45 . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

24 Month . . . . . . .23/17/33 . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

36 Month . . . . . . . .12/9/21 . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

42 Month . . . . . . .11/10/18 . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

60 Month . . . . . . . . .5/7/6 . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

72 Month . . . . . . . . .3/4/3 . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

84 Month . . . . . . . . .2/3/2 . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Table 2Atlas DSET Phoenix, Arizona Test Site, Plate

EXPOSURE GLOSS COLOR MILDEW CHALKING CHECKING/TIME K7/K8/K9/K10 CHANGE CRACKING

Initial . . . . . . . .47/54/51/48

6 Month . . . . . . .43/51/50/42 . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

12 Month . . . . . .42/45/44/40 . . . . . . .8 Fad . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

18 Month . . . . . .26/31/31/26 . . . . . . .6/7 Fad . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

24 Month . . . . . .17/18/20/17 . . . . . . .2 Fad . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

36 Month . . . . . .10/13/12/10 . . . . . . .1 Fad . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

42 Month . . . . . . . .4/4/5/5 . . . . . . . . .1 Fad . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

60 Month . . . . . . . .3/3/3/3 . . . . . . . . .1 Fad . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

72 Month . . . . . . . .3/3/3/3 . . . . . . . . .1 Fad . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

84 Month . . . . . . . .2/3/3/2 . . . . . . . . .1 Fad . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Table 3Atlas DSET Miami, Florida Test Site, Plate

EXPOSURE GLOSS COLOR GENERAL CHALKING CHECKING/TIME A/B/C E APPEARANCE CRACKING

Initial . . . . . . . . .34/46/31 . . . . .60.62/-1.95/-0.3

24 Month . . . . . . .32/41/27 . . . . . . . .Lighter . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

42 Month . . . . . . . .24/7/17 . . . . . . . . .10.18 . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

60 Month . . . . . . . . .5/2/4 . . . . . . . . . .16.69 . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

72 Month . . . . . . . . .2/2/2 . . . . . . . . . .18.85 . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

84 Month . . . . . . . . .2/2/2 . . . . . . . . . .20.39 . . . . . . . . . . .8 . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Table 4Franksville, Wisconsin Outdoor Test Rack, Plate


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TYPE NOVA EPOXY, VCS SWITCH OUTDOOR EXPOSURE TESTING

EXPOSURE GLOSS GENERAL COLOR CRAZING CRACKINGTIME APPEARANCE CHANGE

Initial . . . . . . . . . . .40

6 Month . . . . . . . . . .42 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

12 Month . . . . . . . . . .31 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

18 Month . . . . . . . . . .25 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

24 Month . . . . . . . . . .18 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

36 Month . . . . . . . . . .11 . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

42 Month . . . . . . . . . .6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

60 Month . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

72 Month . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

84 Month . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Table 5Atlas DSET Phoenix, Arizona Test Site, Module

EXPOSURE GLOSS CHALKING CHECKING MILDEW GREENTIME ALGAE

Initial . . . . . . . . . . .51

6 Month . . . . . . . . . .51 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

12 Month . . . . . . . . . .35 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

18 Month . . . . . . . . . .27 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .8 . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

24 Month . . . . . . . . . .18 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .8 . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

36 Month . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

42 Month . . . . . . . . . .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

60 Month . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

72 Month . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

84 Month . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Table 6Atlas DSET Miami, Florida Test Site, Module


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84-Month Outdoor Exposure at Phoenix, Arizona

Type NOVA Epoxy, VCS Switch Unit


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84-Month Outdoor Exposure at Miami, Florida



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58-Month Outdoor Exposure at Kure Beach, NC



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65-Month Outdoor Exposure at Kure Beach, NC



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Type NOVA Epoxy Sample Plates


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KBS3/03

©2003 Cooper Power Systems, Inc.Kyle® is a registered trademark of Cooper Industries, Inc.NOVA™ is a trademark of Cooper Industries, Inc.

Bulletin 03005 • March 2003 • New Issue

P.O. Box 1640Waukesha, WI 53187www.cooperpower.com

84-Month Outdoor Exposure at Miami, Florida

Type NOVA Epoxy Sample Plates

NOVA™ Technology: Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Module ......NOVA Technology: Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Module...

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