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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.


 

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

Copper Soaps

The material generated at the heat of the work due to a chemical reaction between the copper product, the machine surface and the coolant. The term “soaps” is all-inclusive to any chemical reaction, which yields a gel-like or plastic-like foreign material. Many times the soaps are undesirable and have to be removed. However, some soaps offer better lubricity for the wiredrawing process.

Copper Steel

When any minimum copper content is specified, the steel is classed as copper steel. The copper is added to enhance corrosion resistance of the steel.

Copper Sulfate Dipping Test

A test to determine the evenness of the coating on galvanized wire by measuring the time the coat will withstand immersion in a solution of copper sulfate. The test is also known as the Preece test.

Copper Water Tube

Seamless copper tube of certain standardized sizes, in straight lengths and coils, used with flared or soldered joints for the conveyance of gases and liquids.

Copper Wire

Copper wire is either rolled, extruded or drawn into products of a solid section of any cross-sectional shape. It is widely used for electrical purposes as well as many general applica­tions because of its softness in the annealed condition, and its subse­quent ability to withstand a severe amount of deformation and to conduct heat effi­ciently.

Copper Wire Bars

Horizontal cast tough pitch copper wire bars once commonly used for the production of wire rod. Since replaced by the continuous casting and rolling processes.

Copper Wire Rods

Copper wire rods can be produced by hot rolling electrolytically refined wire bars. They can also be produced by extrusion or a combination of extrusion and cold rolling. Continuous casting is another common technique.

Copper, Cement

An impure, finely divided mixture of copper and copper oxide ob­tained by precipitation of copper usually by iron (cementation) from an aqueous solu­tion of copper compounds. The copper content, dry basis varies widely, usually in a range of approximately 50 to 85 percent.

Copper, Chromium

An alloy mainly used for resistance welding electrodes.

Copper, Deoxidized

Copper free from copper oxide and containing controlled amounts of metallic or metallodial de-oxidizers, such as phosphorus, lithium, boron or calcium. Phosphorus deoxidized copper is most commonly used.

Copper, Electrolytic

Copper of high purity, refined by electrolysis, used for electrical conductors.

Copper, Oxygen-Free

Copper containing neither copper oxide nor any residue of deoxidizers. Electrolytically refined copper that has been remelted and fabricated without the introduction of oxygen.

Copper, Refined

Copper that is cast into ingots or ingot-bars for remelting (e.g., for alloying purposes) or into wire bars, slabs for roll­ing, billets (including those of circular cross ­section) and similar forms for rolling, ex­truding, drawing or forging into plates, sheets, strip, wire, tubes and other semi-wrought products.

Copper, Tough Pitch

Copper containing a controlled amount of oxygen, mostly in the form of copper oxide.

Copper, Unalloyed

Commercially pure metal to which no elements are intentional­ly added except for oxygen or the elements required for deoxidization, i.e., phosphorus, lithium, calcium, boron, etc. The minimum copper content shall be 99.85 percent. For use in foundries a minimum copper content of 99.5 percent may be permitted.

Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire

Produced by a patented bonding process into redraw rod of about 8 mm (0.3 in.), it can then be drawn to any desired gauge, including fine wire, using standard copper wiredrawing prac­tice. A final in-line resistance anneal is recommended after drawing and copper/aluminum can be resistance-annealed on the same equipment used to draw and resistance-anneal copper.

Copper-Clad Steel Wire

Copper-covered steel is used for electrical conductors in circumstances necessitating high tensile strength.

Copper-Coated Steel Wire

A steel wire that has been copper coated by mechanical, chemical or electrochemical processes to enhance corrosion resistance, improve electrical conductivity, provide a base for other less adherent electroplated metals, or to provide a lubricant for subsequent drawing. Copper is usually chemically deposited by a simple displacement process based on copper sulfate with various additives such as chloride, in­hibitors and wetting agents. Subsequent drawing is essential to attach the copper firmly to the base metal by the compression effect of drawing.

Copperas

A hydrate of ferrous sulfate (FeSO47H20) formed in the sulfuric acid bath and in the processes for disposing of spent acid liquor. Green Vitriol.

Cord

1) A small, flexible multi-conductor cable. Examples include Type SEOW and Type SJEOW. A term applied both to small sizes of wire rope and to small conductors. A flexible cord is a flexible cable having con­ductors of small cross-sectional area. Two flexible cords twisted together are known as twin flexible cord. Note: There is no official dividing line with respect to size between a cord and a cable, but generally, a cord is considered to be a size No. 10 and smaller. 2) A high tensile strength steel wire used in making tires, 0.65 to 0.85 percent carbon, that requires particularly clean steel and great care at all stages of manufacture. See Cord, Tire.

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