Wirenet Image Band
wirenet.org mobile image band

The Book of Terms

  • Home
  • /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

Form Wound

A coil or winding prewound on a form of a predetermined shape.

Forming

To shape or fashion with the hand or tools or by a shape or mold.

Forming Machines

Systems that are equipped with a number of sliding members fitted with appropriate tools that automatically drive against wire in succession, pressing it against a central former to create a desired shape.

Forming Properties

Those physical and mechanical properties (such as resistance to necking or ductile fracture, yield strength and strain hardening capacity) that allow a metal to be formed without injury to the finished product.

FOS

Designation for fuel-oxygen scrap process (in steel making).

Four-High Mill

A rolling stand which has four rolls, one above the other. This kind of mill has two work rolls, each of which is stiffened by a larger back-roll. Four-high rolls are used only on mills that roll flat products: slabs, plates, sheet and strips.

Fourdrinier Wire

Stainless steel wires once commonly used in paper-making machines. The wires were woven in width and length to suit individual machines, the warp wires welded to form an endless belt that is stretched over a series of rollers to keep the upper surface flat.

FPL

Designation of cable which meets Vertical Tray flame test for Fire Protection Signaling Systems.

FPM

Designation for Feet Per Minute.

FR-1

Designation for a flammability rating established by Underwriters Laboratories for wires and cables that pass a specially designed vertical flame test. This designation has been replaced by VW-1.

Fracture

The separation of material into two or more parts. Fractures are often described by the appearance of the surface of the break in a piece of steel. Crystalline is bright and glittering, failure having developed along the cleavage planes of individual crystals and can be typical of brittle material. A silky fracture has a smooth dull grain indicative of ductile material such as a mild steel. In tensile testing fractures are described by shape, e.g. cup and cone.

Fracture Test

Breaking a piece of metal for the purpose of examining the fractured surface with the unaided eye or with a low power microscope to determine such things as composition, grain size, case depth or soundness.

Fracture, Columnar

A fracture that has angular, finger-like projections.

Fracture, Conchoidal

A fracture that is either convex or concave, resembling a shell.

Fracture, Crystalline

A fracture that is characterized by a lack of visible plastic deformation.

Fracture, Cup and Cone

A fracture that has a pointed cup on one broken piece and a cone-like shape in the other.

Fracture, Fatigue

A fracture that has a smooth surface and frequently shows concentric markings with a nucleus, at which there is an abnormal concentration of stress. Also known as a Progressive or a Detail Fracture.

Fracture, Fibrous

A fracture that has a long stringy nature, usually denoting a tough and ductile material.

Fracture, Granular

A fracture that has a rough surface, similar to sandstone.

Fracture, Ragged

A fracture that has no regularity and pieces frequently break away from it. Also known as a Broken Stick Fracture.
Display # 

Contact us

The Wire Association Int.

71 Bradley Road, Suite 9

Madison, CT 06443-2662

P: (203) 453-2777