What are we trying to measure?

The insulation field hears much about thermal life, thermal capability, heat aging and various methods of test for determining them. However, a question that usually arises which eventually must be answered is, "What are we trying to measure?" In an effort to seek the answer we propose that: 1. The systems tests be spoken of as compatibility tests and that their results be stated as the degree of compatibility between the system under test and some basic system; and that 2. The results of tests on varnishes or compounds and possibly other types of insulation tested alone be stated as "The Potential Thermal Capability" of the material.