HYDREX* AND ENVIRON*

HYDRAULIC FLUIDS IMPROVE

SAFETY FOR AERIAL OPERATIONS
Aerial Operations
Aerial lift trucks (“bucket trucks” and “cherry
pickers”) are routinely used around sources of
electricity and thus, have specific safety hazards
associated with them. To help prevent injury, the
hydraulic fluid used in the hydraulic actuators
should not readily conduct electricity.
Dielectric Breakdown Voltage
Dielectric material is an insulating medium that
intervenes between two electrical sources, and
is a poor conductor of electricity. If the electrical
voltage across the dielectric material becomes
too great, the material will suddenly begin to
conduct current. The Dielectric Breakdown
Voltage is the voltage at which an insulating fluid
begins to conduct electricity and is a measure
of an insulating fluid’s ability to withstand high
electric stress without allowing electrical currents
to complete its circuits. It can also indicate
the presence of water or other contaminants
in the oil. Standard industry test ASTM D877
has been developed to measure Dielectric
Breakdown Voltage. A higher Dielectric Breakdown
Voltage number indicates the fluid’s capacity
as an insulator of electricity instead of being a
conductor.
Dielectric strength measures the electrical
strength of a material as an insulator. It is defined
as the minimum voltage at which electrical
flashover occurs in a fluid and reflects the ability
of a fluid to withstand electrical currents at power
frequencies without failure. Dielectric strength is
expressed as volts per unit thickness - the higher
the dielectric strength of a material the better its
quality as an insulator.
Petro-Canada Hydraulic Fluids
Although a minimum industry standard for
dielectric breakdown voltage has not been
identified in hydraulic fluids, the extremely
demanding transformer fluid business considers
a minimum industry standard level of 30 kV to be
acceptable (see ASTM D877).
Based on the table below, Petro-Canada’s
HYDREX and ENVIRON line of hydraulic fluids
reflect a high Dielectric Breakdown Voltage as a
result of its product formulation. This ultimately
provides aerial operators with greater assurance
of a safer working environment due to the fluid’s
ability to withstand higher voltages.

Dielectric Breakdown Voltage, kV (ASTM D877)

HYDREX HYDREX HYDREX HYDREX HYDREX ENVIRON ENVIRON
AW MV XV MV Extreme AW MV
Arctic 15
39-44 40-47 32 49 51 48-49 44-51
The above values are intended to be used as directional guidelines for each product line (not each specific ISO viscosity grade).
They do not constitute a specification. The values are based on typical controlled, non-contaminated fresh oil. Contamination such
as water, dirt, or other conducting particles (even in very small quantities) will reduce a fluid’s ability in Breakdown Voltage. Proper
systems must be in place to eliminate these contaminates in critical applications.
Health and Safety
To obtain Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), contact
one of Petro-Canada’s TechData Info Lines.

TechData Info Lines

If you would like to know more about Petro-Canada’s
HYDREX* and ENVIRON* hydraulic fluids, or any Petro-Canada Europe Lubricants
other product in our complete line of quality lubricants, The Manor, Haseley Business Centre
please contact us at: Warwick, Warwickshire
CV35 7LS
Lubricants Head Office United Kingdom
Petro-Canada Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +44 (0) 2476-247294
2310 Lakeshore Road West Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +44 (0) 2476-247295
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L5J 1K2 Petro-Canada America Lubricants
980 North Michigan Avenue
Canada - West . . . . . . . . . . . Phone 1-800-661-1199 Suite 1400, #1431
- East (English) . . . . Phone 1-800-268-5850 Chicago, Illinois
(French) . . . . . Phone 1-800-576-1686 USA 60611
Other Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phone (416) 730-2408 Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-888-284-4572
E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lubecsr@petro-canada.ca Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (708) 246-8994
Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.petro-canada.com E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . email@petro-canadaamerica.com

TB-1237E (07.10)
*Marque de commerce de Petro-Canada – Trademark Beyond today’s standards.*