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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

Bearing Quality Steels

Steels used for balls, rollers and races of anti-friction bearings. Great hardness and resistance to crushing are the chief requirements. These properties are obtained with carbon, chromium, and vanadium. Chief representatives are SAE 52100 and SAE 6195 steels.

Becket Loop

A loop of small rope or strand fastened to the end of a large wire rope to facilitate installation.

Bedding

A layer of material applied to a cable immediately below the armoring. For an armored cable, a layer or layers of fibrous material may be permeated with waterproof compound applied beneath the armoring. A layer or layers of waterproof compound may also be present.

Bedding Springs

See Springs, Bedding.

Bell

The entrance of a die. See Bell Radius.

Bell Radius

A section of a wiredrawing die which provides a smooth contour into the entrance and the approach angle, allowing lubricant to reach the working surface of the die.

Bell Wire

Insulated copper wire used for making doorbell and thermostat connections in homes.

Bell Wrap Capstans

Capstans used as line speed setters for wire insulating processes. They typically use spring tensioning on the belt, which, in turn, applies pressure to the cable so a positive grip is obtained.

Belly

A term that once was used to indicate a surface quality problem. See Buckle.

Belt

Number of layers of insulation on a conductor, or number of layers of jacket on a cable.

Belted Cable

A multi-core paper-insulated cable in which part of the dielectric is applied to each conductor individually and the remainder is in the form of an overall belt.

Bend Loss

An increase in attenuation caused by either bending around a small radius (macro bending) or from many small distortions (micro bending). Micro bending can be the result of inadequate cable design. Many small pressure points can cause excess optical loss in a cable.

Bend Radius

Radius of curvature that a fiber optic, metallic cable or bare wire is able to bend without any adverse effects. The distance from a centerline or point to the axis of rotation, applied to the forming of a product by bending.

Bend Strength

Amount of adhesion between bonded surfaces such as in cemented ribbon cable.

Bend Test

A test for determining relative ductility of metal that is to be formed or for determining soundness and toughness of metal. A sample is repeatedly bent back and forth 180 degrees until it fractures. Also known as the reverse bend test or the flexion test.

Bending Angles

The term used for the angle of contact when polishing the contour of a carbide die to achieve a smooth surface.

Beryllium

Element, chemical symbol Be. Beryllium is added to copper to increase hardness and strength.

Beryllium Copper

Sometimes known as beryllium bronze, it is composed essentially of 99.5% copper with beryllium and other additions, providing hardness, high strength and resistance to corrosion. Often used for springs. Its use, however, is limited because it is toxic and suspected of being carcinogenic.

Bessel Function

A mathematical solution to a differential equation that is used to solve changes in conductor resistance and mutual inductance between conductors with respect to frequency changes due to skin and proximity effects.

Bessemer Process

A process, developed in England about 1850 by Sir Henry Bessemer, for making steel by blowing air under pressure through molten pig iron contained in a suitable vessel, whereby a portion of the iron, most of the silicon and manganese and practically all the carbon are eliminated by oxidation. The process is obsolete but noteworthy because it was the first of the ingot steel processes and a forerunner to the modern steel manufacturing processes, using oxygen instead of air.
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