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The Book of Terms

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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.

   

 

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

Annealing, Stainless Wires

Annealing of austenitic stainless steels is carried out by heating to 1050°C (1922°F), followed by a quick cool, either in air or water. Annealing temperatures for martensitic stainless steel vary according to quality, a preferred rate often being about 750°C (1382°F), and the wire should then be air-cooled. Usually carried out in a protective atmosphere.

Annealing, Strand

Passing of wire in single strand form through a furnace.

Annealing, Sub-critical

Heating to and holding at some temperature below the transformation range, followed by cooling at a suitable rate. After drawing, wire is given a sub-critical anneal in either a furnace or a salt bath, which conditions the material so that it can receive further draw­ing.

Annealing, Vacuum Bright

Annealing in a container in which a very high artificial vacuum is created, reducing the oxygen in the annealing pot to such a degree that scaling or coloring of the material is im­possible.

Annealing, White

See White Annealing.

Annular Conductor

A number of wires stranded in three reversed concentric layers around a core. The core is usually made wholly or mostly of non-conducting material. This construction has the advantage of lower total a-c resistance for a given cross-sectional area of conducting material by eliminating the greater skin effect at the center.

Annular Strand

See Strand, Annular.

Annunciator

A signaling device, usually electrically operated, that gives an audible or visual signal (or both) when energized.

Anode

The positive electrodes of the electrolytic cell at which negative ions are discharged, positive ions are formed, or other oxidizing reactions occur. The negative pole of a storage battery. In anodic brightening a lustrous surface is imparted to a metal by making it an anode under suitable conditions (also known as electro brightening). In anodic etching, the surface layer is removed from a metal by making it the anode in a suitable electrolyte at a suitable current density.

Anodic Films

Anodic film insulation (aluminum oxide coating on aluminum conductor) can be used on magnet wire but some other wire applications have been suggested. The coating is thin, space saving, inorganic and resistant to extreme temperatures (3600°F melting point).

Anodic Metal

Any metal which tends to dissolve, corrode or oxidize in preference to another metal when the metals are connected electrically in the presence of an electrolyte.

Anodized Aluminum

Aluminum coated with a thin film of oxide (applied by anodic treatment) resulting in a surface with extreme hardness. A wide variety of dye-colored coatings are made possible by impregnation in the anodizing process.

Anodizing

The production of a highly protective and tenacious form of oxide as a coating on aluminum and certain other light alloys. The anodizing process increases the thickness of the oxide film normally present on aluminum by making the metal the anode in a suitable electrolyte such as chromic acid or sulfuric acid. The latter gives a colorless film, which has a mordant action for certain dyes, so that attractive colored finishes can be obtained by immersing the anodized aluminum in a boiling solution of a suitable dyestuff.

Anodizing Sheet

Sheet of suitable constitution and surface quality for the application of protective and decorative films by an anodic oxidation process.

Antenna Wire

Wire generally with high tensile strength used as an antenna. It may be insulated or uninsulated.

Anti-Cobble Device

An electro-mechanical device designed to stop a rolling mill within a given period of time to prevent the product from cobbling, which could develop as the result of a sudden jam in one of the stands and the traveling product piles up if it is allowed to continue to flow into the jam.

Anti-Fray Lacquer

A lacquer used to coat textile or glass braid to prevent ends from fraying when cutting.

Antimony

Element, chemical symbol Sb. Silvery white and lustrous element, antimony exhibits poor heat and electrical conductivity. It is used primarily in compounds such as antimony trioxide for flame-retardants.

Antioxidant

Retards or prevents degradation of materials exposed to oxygen (air) or peroxides. A substance, which slows down decomposition caused by oxygen.

Antiozonant

A substance that prevents or slows down material degradation due to ozone reaction.
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