A ranking system for different quality standards for different applications of the same product. A quality name generally related to the intended application of wire (e.g., cold rolling quality, merchant quality, plating quality, special quality, etc.).

Determination of specific characteristics of a microstructure by making quantitative measurements on micrographs or metallographic images. Quantities so measured include volume concentration of phases, grain size, particle size or secondary phases and surface area-to-volume ratio of microconstituents.

A temper of nonferrous alloys characterized by tensile strength about midway between those of dead soft and half hard tempers.

See Quenching.

Aging which follows rapid cooling.

Fracture of a metal during quenching from elevated temperature. Most frequently observed in hardened carbon steel, alloy steel, or tool steel parts of high hardness and low toughness. Cracks often emanate from fillets, holes, corners, or other stress raisers and result from high stresses due to the volume changes accompanying transformation to martensite.

The fluid used in quenching operations, which range from plain water, water-soluble oils to straight oils. The material used depends upon the final use application.

1) For alpha-beta alloys, like certain copper and titanium alloys, quench hardening is the process where the alloy is solution-treated and then quenched to develop a martensite-like structure. 2) For ferrous alloys, see Hardening.

A process of shock cooling thermoplastic materials from the molten state. Can be gradient or consistent cooling.

A compartment in a rod rolling operation where quenching is controlled to produce the characteristics necessary for the finished product.

The cooling of a heated metal through its transformation range, usually by immersing it in a liquid such as oil, water, molten salt or lead. Quenching is an integral part of most processes for the hardening of steel. Except for gas, it is essential that the cooling medium be controlled at a specified temperature and the material be immersed until it has attained the quench temperature throughout its mass. See Patenting and Patenting, Lead. When applicable, the following more specific terms are used: direct quenching, fog quenching, hot quenching, interrupted quenching, selective quenching, spray quenching and time quenching.

A fracture resulting from thermal stresses induced during rapid cooling or quenching. The fracture could be caused by poor quenching fluid temperature control where the fluid may be too cold.

After austenitizing, steel rod is prequenched in a salt bath at a temperature just over the Ms point. It is then transformed in a second salt bath at a temperature around 510°C, both baths in tandem. Approximate isothermal transformation is said to take place, providing a fine even structure and, consequently, high tensile strength, higher ductility for a given strength and improved fatigue properties.

A category of cable extrusion head tooling that provides nearly instantaneous color changes. The tooling allows several extruders, each processing a different color material, to feed into head. Internal valves redirect the flow from one extruder to another to make either base color changes and/or stripe color changes.

Designation for rubber-insulated building wire, 600V, 60°C (140°F).

Designation for carbide nibs sizes for wiredrawing dies.

An enclosed channel designed for holding wires or cables, including conduit, electrical metallic tubing, sleeves, slots, underfloor raceways, cellular floors, surface raceways, lighting fixture raceways, wireways, cable troughs, busways and auxiliary gutters.

The vertical or horizontal open support system with shelves that is used to store material.

A device to support cables over a distance.

Technique of extruding a product using a wheel and radially feeding the stock into a die designed for the product profile.