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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

Catchweight Coils

An inexact weight of wire as opposed to an exact weight.

Category 3

A level of network system performance characterized by cable performance verified to a maximum signal frequency of 16 MHz.

Category 4

A level of network system performance characterized by cable performance verified to a maximum signal frequency of 20 MHz.

Category 5

A level of network system performance characterized by cable performance verified to a maximum signal frequency of 100 MHz.

Category 5e

An enhanced Category 5 cable, verified to a maximum signal frequency of 150 MHz.

Category 6

A proposed (as of 2002) level of network system performance characterized by cable performance verified to a maximum signal frequency of 200 MHz. A Category 7 cable, cited to 600 MHz, has also been proposed but not yet approved.

Catenary Wire

The wire from which an overhead conductor is suspended by means of links. In a simple catenary-suspension construction, either a single contact wire or pair of contact wires is supported at inter­vals from a single longitudinal catenary. The correct lateral position of the contact wire(s) is generally retained by a pull off, steady-brace or bracket attached to each supporting structure.

Caterpillar Capstans

Capstans that are generally found on jacketing or sheathing lines. Often the cable diameter is large or the cable assembly is fragile and cannot easily be wrapped around a capstan wheel. This type of capstan has two tractor-like belts, which apply pressure to the cable as it runs between the belts.

Caterpuller

Another spelling for caterpillar.

CATH

Designation for electrolytic cathode copper.

Cathode

1) The raw material to feed the furnaces of a continuous casting operation. It is produced by electrolytic refining. 2) The negative electrode in a cell through which current is being forced.

Cathode, De-stacker

A device that feeds cathodes into a melting furnace prior to a continuous casting. The cathodes, raw material of various chemistry, are shipped in stack form and the de-stacker feeds them into the furnace mechanically.

Cathodic Metal

Any metal that does not tend to dissolve, corrode or oxidize in preference to another metal when the metals are connected electrically in the presence of an electrolyte. In an iron-zinc connection the iron is cathodic; in an iron-copper connection the copper is cathodic.

Cathodic Protection, Electrolytic

The use of an impressed current to prevent or to reduce the rate of corrosion of a metal in an electrolyte by making the metal the cathode.

Cathodic Protection, Galvanic

The use of a more chemically active metal to protect a less active metal. Example: applying a zinc coating to protect steel.

CATV

Designation for Community Antenna Television.

CATV Cables

A network of coaxial cables that service a town or city.

Caustic

An alkaline substance that etches, burns or destroys by chemical action. For the wire industry, sodium hydroxide is such a substance.

Caustic Cracking

A form of stress-corrosion cracking most frequently encountered in carbon steels or iron-chromium-nickel alloys that are exposed to concentrated hydroxide solutions at temperatures of 200° to 250°C (400° to 480°F).

Caustic Dip

A solution of sodium hydroxide in which metal is immersed to clean the surface, or, when working with aluminum alloys, to reveal the metal’s microstructure.
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