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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

Finishing Die

The last die on a wiredrawing machine, sometimes mounted in a special holder so that it may be set at any suitable angle relative to the wire line to ensure perfect cast of the finished wire. For certain wires a rotating finishing die is an asset, ensuring even wear on the die.

Finishing Materials

Any material that may be added to purified, molten metal in the latter stages of producing a heat of steel, i.e., for modifying its chemical composition. See Additions.

Fire Resistance Rating

The time, in hours, a material or construction will withstand fire exposure as determined by certain standards.

Fire Resistant

Property of a cable material that is able to avoid combustion for a given period of time.

Fire Retardant

Property of a cable material that is able to delay ignition for a given period of time and slow the spread of the flame once ignition has taken place.

Fire Wire

A stainless steel hollow wire used principally in the aircraft industry to reduce the likelihood of wires catching fire.

Fire-Break, Cable

Materials or devices to prevent fire spread.

Fire-Refined Copper

The result of re-melting blister copper or copper scrap in a refining furnace where air is blown through the bath and slag containing im­purities is removed. This material is not as pure as electrolytically refined copper.

Fire-Shield, Cable

Material or devices to prevent fire spread between raceways.

Firestop

A material, device, or assembly of parts installed in a cable system in a fire-rated wall or floor to prevent passage of flame, smoke, or gasses through the rated barrier.

Firewood Wire

A mild steel wire that is fully annealed, usually after being cut in lengths making up 1 kg bundles.

Fish Hook Wire

A hard-drawn wire that is generally produced from high-carbon wire, 0.9 percent carbon and upwards.

Fish Tail

The V-shaped split occasionally occurring at the end of a product through hot rolling.

Fish Tape Wire

A steel wire pushed through raceways and used to pull in wires. It can be a thin wire, or even string. It often is threaded through electrical conduit so that it can be used for pulling through the electric cable or wire.

Fish-Pole

A technique of sampling taken when the caster and rolling mill is operating under ideal conditions with the proper temperatures, speed and good rod quality. A sample (fish-pole) is usually taken at the end of the production run, or when rolling is about to stop for maintenance. The mill is run forward at a slow or “jog” speed so that the samples can be removed and checked.

Five-Wheel Configuration

A configuration for continuous casting of nonferrous bar. The five-wheel version shows a casting wheel supported by two turn wheels that drive the band. With this arrangement, the band that closes the mold is kept below the wheel, leaving the cast bar with a clear path to the rolling mill without twisting.

Fixed Pass Design

A three-sided containment that moves toward and over an abutment for a close fit in the groove in the manufacture of shaped wire.

Fixture Wire

A conductor used in lighting fixtures or similar equipment, or used to connect a lighting fixture to branch circuit conductors. Common types include Type TF (thermoplastic-insulated, solid or seven-strand conductor) and Type TFN (thermoplastic-insulated, nylon-jacketed, solid or seven-strand conductor).

Flag

A visual indicator for event happenings, such as the activation and re-closing of an automatic circuit breaker.

Flakes

Internal fissures in ferrous metals. In a fractured surface these fissures may appear as sizeable areas of silvery brightness and coarse texture; in wrought products such fissures may appear as short discontinuities on an etched section. Also called “shatter cracks,” “chrome checks,” “fish eyes” and “snowflakes.”
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