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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.


 

All   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

A

Asbestos-insulated, no braid, for dry locations only. In raceways, only for leads to or within apparatus. Limited to 300V, 200°C. Term is now obsolete as asbestos has been replaced by FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Polymer insulation).

A/D

Designation for: 1) Analog to Digital. 2) Analog or Digital.

AB

Designation for high-voltage butyl cable.

ABC

Designation for Armored Bushed Cable.

ABP

Designation for butyl-polyethylene high voltage cable, 75°C.

Abraded Surface

A scraping away of the surface of a material. Often used to define a defect on a wiredrawing die’s surface where the wire first contacts the die. The friction generated at this surface could cause lubricant failure and allow the material to be galled.

Abrasion

The process of rubbing, grinding or wearing away by friction.

Abrasion Resistance

Ability of a wire cable or material to resist surface wear.

Abrasion Resisting Steel

Intermediate carbon manganese steel with better workability than carbon steel of the same hardness level. Also called A-R Steel.

Abrasion Test Equipment

A laboratory device that is designed to determine the resistance of material to scratching and abrasion. The test can be conducted on metals, coatings and seals. See Falex Test.

Abrasive

A substance used for grinding, honing, lapping, finishing, polishing, pressure blasting or barrel finishing. It includes natural materials (such as garnet, emery and corundum) and synthetic materials (such as aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and boron carbide). Natural and synthetic diamond powder may also be used.

Abrasive Oxide

A type of contaminant generated in the manufacturing process that could be suspended in a coolant causing poor die/roll life or degrading the surface characteristic of the finished product. Normally, they are oxides of the primary metal that are generated at the heat or work and usually are abrasive.

Abrasive Wear

A metal-to-metal contact between the screw and a barrel of an extruding machine used for insulating and jacketing electrical wire. It is a form of galling.

AC

Designation for: 1) Alternating Current. 2) Armored Cable.

AC Resistance

The total electrical resistance offered by a device in an alternating current circuit due to inductive and capacitive effects, as well as the direct current resistance.

ACA

Designation for synthetic tapes, felted asbestos, glazed cotton or glass braid, 1000V, 90°C.

ACAR

Designation for Aluminum Conductor Alloy Reinforced.

Accelerated Aging

A test in which voltage, temperature, etc., on a wire are increased above normal operating values to obtain observable deterioration of mechanical or physical properties that would result from aging in a relatively short period. The plotted results give expected service life under normal conditions.

Accelerated Life Test

A test in which a cable, part or material is subjected to extreme conditions to determine the life of that component or cable.

of that component or cable.

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