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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

Blackbody

A hypothetical body that absorbs, without reflection, all of the electromagnetic radiation on its surface. A body is called a blackbody if, for all values of the wavelength of the incident radiant energy, all of the energy is absorbed.

Blade Alignment

A term used for the process of welding the ends of rod and wire. Blade refers to the form on the ends that must be aligned properly for welding.

Blade Spool

Alternative name for a flat pin. It is used to carry the weft wire for insertion into the shuttle on a weaving machine.

Blank

1) In powder metallurgy a compressed mass of powdered metal which has been pre-sintered, shaped, cut or sintered. 2) A piece of metal which is to be worked into its finished form by stamping, drawing, forging or extruding.

Bleed

The draining off or discharge of material to maintain pressure in a system, or to facilitate a change in materials. Specifically, in extruders, the draining off of the old insulation or jacketing material when changing color or chemical composition.

Bleeder Resistor

See Resistor, Bleeder.

Blenders

A device in the cable manufacturing section for mixing plastic compounds to create the material for jacketing and insulation.

Blending Angles

The term used for the angle of contact when polishing the contour of a drawing die to achieve a smooth transition between the approach angle, bearing surface and back relief.

Blister

A raised area, often dome-shaped, resulting from many different causes, such as loss of adhesion between a coating or deposit and the basis metal or delamination under the pressure of expanding gas trapped in a metal in a near subsurface zone. Very small blisters may be called pinheads, heads or pepper blisters.

Blister Copper

An impure form of copper produced by blowing air through molten copper matte. During the conversion process, sulfur, iron and other impurities are oxidized. The copper content is normal­ly about 98 percent.

Blistering

A defect on or near the surface of formed metal caused by gas bubbles that fail to escape from the original molten metal. Can also be caused by over­heating or moisture in furnace atmosphere.

Block

A power-driven tapered capstan mounted on a vertical or horizontal shaft. It pulls the wire through the die and also serves to collect the wire in coils, the final block of a multi-die machine being equipped with devices for easily stripping the coil. Blocks may be water-, lubricant- or air-cooled and are usually cast in a complex design to permit internal cooling.

Block Diameter

This dimension is a key factor, along with gearbox speed ratio, for wiredrawing machines. The block diameter affects slip characteristics as well as other factors. An end user may specify wire cast, which reflects the diameter of the block to be used.

Block Electrodes

Used in the fabrication of wire articles to affect a rectangular pattern of joints simultaneously, as, for in­stance, in a fireguard.

Block Marks

Short longitudinal-type scratches introduced during strip rolling, usually on the reeling equipment, by relative movement between adjacent wraps of the coil. Also, transverse marks or scrapes on the inside of the wire surface that makes contact with the draw block. Easily identified by its confinement to the inside of the cast.

Bloom

A semi-finished steel product, earlier rolled from an ingot in a blooming mill. It is produced by continuous casting with its section either rectangular (most often) or quadratic. The width of a bloom is less than twice the thickness, and the cross sectional area is usually more than 230 cm2 (36 in. 2). Blooms are used for rolling of bars and beams.

Bloom Shear

A shear that cuts a cast bloom or rolled ingot into bloom lengths. It also cuts off the discard.

Blow Holes

Holes produced during solidification of metals or alloys by the evolution of trapped gases that form small pockets or holes at or below the cast surface.

Blown Jacket

Term used for outer cable covering applied by the controlled inflation of the cured jacket tube and the pulling of the cable through it.

Blowout

See Breakdown.
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