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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

Creepage Path

The path across the surface of a dielectric between two conductors. Lengthening the creepage path reduces the possibilities of arc damage or tracking.

Creepage Surface

An insulating surface that provides physical separation as a form of insulation between two electrical conductors of different potential.

Crimp

The act of compressing a connector barrel or terminal wings around a cable in order to make an electrical connection.

Crimp Depth

The thickness of the crimped portion of a connector measured between two opposite points on the crimped surface.

Crimp Termination

Connection in which a metal sleeve is secured to a conductor by mechanically crimping the sleeve with pliers, presses or automated crimping machines.

Crimped Copper

Copper in sheets or strips having relatively small transverse corrugations applied subsequent to normal finishing operations to provide for expansion to increase rigidity or for ornamental purposes.

Crimping Machine

A machine for bending lengths of wire into crimps or cor­rugations by passing them between the teeth of two crimping wheels so that the wires keep in position when formed into mesh.

Critical Angle

Smallest angle at which a meridional ray may be totally reflected within a fiber at the core-cladding interface.

Critical Cooling Rate

The slowest rate of cooling required to suppress phase changes. The term is most usually applied to the rate of quenching various products that are heated or “worked.” For example, the rate required to produce a martensic structure in the hardening of steel. The critical cooling rate in patenting is selected to provide minimum pearlitic spacing.

Critical Range

The temperature range in which a constitutional change occurs on heating or cooling a metal in the solid state. Also known as the transformation range.

Crop

The end or ends of a rolled section (bloom, billet or rod) that contain defects to be cut off and discarded; also referred to as “crop end” and “discard.”

Crop Shear

A shear used to cut sections that are to be discarded and recycled.

Cross Country Mill

A mill once used for rolling copper wire bars. The mill, operated either manually or automatically, was composed of several stands that were arranged in train or in two or more trains so that the piece being rolled reversed direction of travel two or more times before the finish. The trains of rolls were set far enough apart that the bar was engaged in only one stand at a time.

Cross Hatch

Light broken surface. See also Broken Surface.

Cross Head

See Crosshead.

Cross-Connect

A facility enabling the termination of cable elements and their interconnection, and/or cross-connection, primarily by means of a patch cord or jumper.

Cross-Link

To cure by linking molecules together in a polymer, either by using chemical cross-linking agents or radiation.

Cross-Linked

Intermolecular bonds between long chain thermoplastic polymers by chemical or electron bombardment means. The properties of the resulting thermoset material are usually improved.

Cross-Linked Polyethylene

Common thermoset insulation for wire and cable. Polyethylene made from petroleum and natural gas undergoes a cross-linking chemical reaction that causes compound molecules to bond, forming heavier molecules with the desired physical and chemical properties. A dielectric material used for insulating and jacketing.

Cross-Linking

Applied to polymer molecules, it is the setting up of chemical links between the molecular chain. Found in most thermosetting resins.
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