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The Book of Terms

The Book of TermsThe WJI Book of Wire & Cable Terms: an interactive experience of learning and sharing
This book, written by industry volunteers and containing more than 5,000 entries, is an asset for newcomers to wire and cable.

At the same time, it also represents an opportunity for industry veterans to give back by either updating or adding to the more than 5,000 entries. This is an honor system process. Entries/updates must be non-commercial, and any deemed not to be so will be removed. Share your expertise as part of this legacy project to help those who will follow. Purchase a printed copy here.

   

 

All   0-9   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Best Patented Steel Wire

See Patented Steel Wire and Plough Steel Wire.

Best Wire

An American term for steel wire of medium electrical resistance.

Bethanizing Process

An electro-galvanizing process, also known as the Tainton Process, in which zinc is electrodeposited from a high sulfuric acid, high zinc electrolyte by means of insoluble lead-silver anodes employing high current densities.

BH

Brinell hardness number.

Bichromate (Dichromate) Dipped Finish

The finish that is obtained by immersion in a solution of a bichromate and sulfuric acid, resulting in substantially complete removal of scale and oxide. It results in a finish approaching the true color of the metal.

Bifilar

A winding made non-inductive by winding two wires carrying current in opposite directions together, side-by-side, as one wire.

Biflaker

A high-speed de-reeling device once used that consisted of a precision engineered metal disc holding a metal ring designed to fit in the lip of the disc. The disc rests on the top of the LW (long traverse vertical) reel and the wire was paid off between the lip of the disc and the metal ring.

BIL

Designation for Basic Impulse Level. A reference to impulse insulation strength.

Billet

A semi-finished product intended for re-rolling or forging. It is usually square with chamfered or radiused corners and used as feedstock for producing rod and bar products. They are either directly cast from a strand caster or rolled from a bloom.

Billet Shear

A shear that cuts billets rolled from blooms or strand cast into required lengths.

Billion Conductor Feet

A quantity derived by multiplying the number of conductors in a cable by the amount (length) of cable. Usually used to indicate plant capacity or an annual requirement.

Bimetallic Wire

Any wire formed of two different metals joined together (not alloyed). It can include wire with a steel core for high strength, clad wire or plated or coated wire.

Binder

A spirally wrapped tape or thread used for holding cable components in place until additional manufacturing operations are performed.

Binders

Soft wires used for tying coils or bundles of wire. String may sometimes be used for binding fine sizes or wire with a highly polished surface. Also known as bands or tie-wires.

Binding Post

A device for clamping or holding electrical conductors in a rigid position.

Birdcage

A defect in stranded wire where the strands in the stripped portion between the covering of an insulated wire and a soldered connection (or an end-tinned lead) have separated from the normal lay of the strands, forming a shape resembling a bird cage. The problem often is poor stranding technique and/or improper tensions during processing.

Birmingham Wire Gauge

Used extensively in Great Britain and the U.S. for many years, this gauging system is now obsolete. Its uses have persisted, however, for certain purposes including galvanized steel wire for cable armor.

Bismuth

Element, chemical symbol Bi. Bismuth is a soft, coarse crystalline heavy metal with a silvery white color and pinkish tinge that is usually produced as a by-product of copper, lead and other metals. Used as an alloying agent, its thermal conductivity is lower than all other metals except mercury.

Black Annealed Wire

See Wire, Black Annealed.

Black Plate

A lightweight, thin, uncoated cold-reduced steel strip or sheet with a dark oxide coloring prior to pickling that serves as the substrate (raw material) to be coated in the tin mill.
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