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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

Dip Process

The process of covering a surface by means of dipping it into or through a molten bath of the coating material. This may be followed by dippings or baths in other solutions and/or materials to produce desired results.

DIR

Designation for double lapping of pure rubber. Also abbreviated to “DPR.”

Direct Burial Cable

A cable installed directly in the earth. See Buried Cable.

Direct Capacitance

See Capacitance, Direct.

Direct Current

An electric current that flows in only one direction.

Direct Current Resistance

The resistance offered by any circuit to the flow of direct current.

Direct Flame Impingement Heating

A heating or re-heating process where the flame directly contacts the product to elevate its temperature as opposed to heating with induction or furnace.

Direction, Lay

The lateral direction in which the strands of a conductor run over the top of the cable conductor as they re­cede from an observer looking along the axis of the conductor or cable. Also applies to twisted cable.

Disc Type Straightening

The process of straightening rod by rotating it while feeding lengthwise through a series of rotating rings or discs which flex the rod in all planes through the axis. The equipment includes a cut-to-length device for use on rod that is straightened from coils.

Discard

The top, piped portion of an ingot that has been sheared off and designated for remelting. A “cut” is usually taken from the bottom of the ingot as well.

Discarding

The act of rejecting undesirable portions of an ingot.

Disconnect

A switch used to isolate a portion of an electrical circuit.

Discontinuity

Any interruption in the normal physical structure or configuration of a part, such as cracks, laps, seams, inclusions or porosity. A discontinuity may or may not affect the usefulness of a part.

Discontinuous Yielding

The non-uniform plastic flow of a metal exhibiting a yield point in which plastic deformation is inhomogeneously distributed along the gauge length. Under some circumstances, it may occur in metals not exhibiting a distinct yield point, either at the onset of or during plastic flow.

Discrete Wiring

Wire or wires having distinct identity and individuality of purpose.

Displacement Current

A current that exists in addition to ordinary conduction current in AC circuits. It is proportional to the rate of change of the electrical field.

Disruptive Discharge

A sudden, large increase in current through an insulation medium due to the complete failure of the medium under the electrostatic stress.

Disruptive Gradient

See Dielectric Strength.

Dissipation Factor

Term used to measure the ratio of power loss in an insulation to a product of the applied voltage and resultant current. It is the tangent of the loss angle of the insulating material. Also referred to as loss tangent, tan delta and approximate power factor.

Distortion

Any deviation from an original size, shape or contour that occurs because of the application of stress or the release of residual stress. Also, a term used to describe the phenomenon of wire moving through the die where the wire center moves at a different speed than the other periphery, resulting in distortion of the original pattern.
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