Overview
IEC 60454-3-12:2006 specifies requirements for polyethylene and polypropylene film tapes with pressure sensitive adhesives used for electrical purposes. It is part of the IEC 60454 series covering general requirements (Part 1), test methods (Part 2) and material-specific sheets (Part 3). This second edition consolidates earlier editions (including IEC 60454-3-18) and defines classification, electrical and mechanical limits, thermal endurance and low-temperature performance for these film tapes.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and classification
- Polyethylene (PE) film tapes are classified into six types with thermal indices of 90 or 75 and minimum temperature ratings of –10 °C, –18 °C or –33 °C.
- Polypropylene (PP) film tapes are classified into three types (biaxially oriented PP) with a thermal index of 105 and different adhesive families (acrylic crosslinked, rubber thermosetting, acrylic thermoplastic).
- Thermal endurance
- PE types: evidence of temperature index (exposure temperatures vary by type: e.g. 100–120 °C for index 90; 90–110 °C for index 75).
- PP types: exposure temperatures include 120 °C, 140 °C and 160 °C to demonstrate index 105.
- Electrical and mechanical limits (selected from Tables)
- Tensile strength: PE types ≈ 100 N/10 mm per mm thickness (min); PP types ≈ 500 N/10 mm per mm thickness (min).
- Elongation at break: PE ≥150%, PP ≥50%.
- Adhesion to steel: PE ≥1.5 N/10 mm; PP types higher (examples: 2.2–2.6 N/10 mm depending on type).
- Breakdown voltage: PE ≥40 kV/mm (room); PP ≥40–45 kV/mm.
- Insulation resistance, electrolytic corrosion limits, flagging, shear after water immersion and low-temperature adhesion requirements are specified and tested per IEC 60454-2.
- Testing and conformity
- All tests referenced in this sheet are performed using the test methods in IEC 60454-2; general requirements and marking follow IEC 60454-1.
Applications and users
- Intended users:
- Tape manufacturers and R&D teams validating products to IEC requirements.
- Test laboratories and quality assurance personnel performing type‑approval tests.
- Procurement engineers and specifiers writing purchase orders for electrical insulating tapes.
- Electrical assembly, wiring harness, appliance and cable manufacturers selecting tape for insulation, bundling, color coding, moisture sealing and mechanical protection.
- Practical value:
- Helps ensure minimum electrical, thermal and mechanical performance for pressure sensitive adhesives on PE and PP films.
- Enables consistent material selection across suppliers while reminding users to choose materials based on actual application needs (this specification is a performance baseline, not a substitute for application-specific testing).
Related standards
- IEC 60454-1: General requirements for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes (electrical)
- IEC 60454-2: Methods of test for pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes
- IEC 60426: Test methods for electrolytic corrosion with insulating materials
Note: Users should consult the full IEC 60454-3-12:2006 publication for complete tables, test conditions and ordering designations when specifying or certifying polyethylene and polypropylene film tapes with pressure sensitive adhesives.