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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

Impact Test

A test to determine the toughness, or resistance to shock or impact, of a material. The energy absorbed in fracturing a test piece, usually notched, by a blow of high velocity is determined. The most common tests are Izod, Charpy and Fremont, each having its individual test piece dimensions and method of delivering the blow. See Izod Test and Charpy.

Impact Tool

Device used to punch new conductor.

Impedance

Electrical impedance is the complex property of an electrical circuit, or the components of a circuit, that opposes the flow of an alternating current. Ohms is the unit if measure. For a cable, its reading represents the total resistance that the cable presents to the electrical current passing through it. At low frequencies the impedance is largely a function of the conductor size, but at high frequencies, conductor size, insulation material and insulation thickness all affect the cable’s impedance. Matching impedance is very important. If the system is designed to be 100 Ohms, then the cable should match that impedance, otherwise error-producing reflections are created.

Impedance Discontinuity

Sudden change in the impedance of a cable, often caused by twisted sections un-twisting or other cable faults.

Impedance Match

A condition in which the impedance of a particular circuit cable or component is the same as the impedance of the circuit, cable or device to which it is connected.

Impedance Matching

Connecting cables and devices, which have the same impedance value in ohms.

Impedance Matching Transformer

A transformer designed to match the impedance of one circuit to that of another.

Imperfection

1) When referring to the physical condition of a part of metal product, and departure of a part of metal product, any departure of a quality characteristic from its intended level or state. The existence of an imperfection does not imply nonconformance, nor does it have any implication as the usability of a product or service. An imperfection must be rated on a scale of severity, in accordance with applicable specifications, to establish whether or not the part or metal product is of acceptable quality. 2) In crystallography, any deviation from an ideal space lattice.

Imperial Standard Wire Gauge

More usually known as Standard Wire Gauge.

Imperial Wire Gauge

See British Standard Wire Gauge.

Impregnate

To fill the voids and interstices of cable or the fabric of a cable with a compound.

Impregnated Pressure Cable

A mass-impregnated paper-insulated cable with a mechanically reinforced lead sheath in which the space inside the lead sheath is brought up to a high pressure by the in­troduction of inert gas in contact with the dielectric. Appreciable sheath clearance is required for single-core cables while lead pipe gas channels are included in three-core designs.

Impregnating Electrical Coils

Thermo­setting artificial resins based on melamine, urea, phenol and alkyds are extensively used for temperature ratings up to 1,200°C (1,920°F). They have relatively short setting times and have advantages over earlier materials in setting and curing in the inner layers of the winding.

Impregnation of Cables

In the mass impregnation process, paper insulated cables are wound on a drum or in a circular tray that is placed in a heated tank to dry the insulation at low pressure. Hot impregnating compound is then admitted and the vessel maintained at about 1,200°C (1,920°F) under positive pressure. The total drying and impregnating time is of the order of 20 to 70 hours depending on cable type and voltage.

Impulse

A surge of unidirectional polarity.

Impulse Ratio

The ratio of the flashover, sparkover or breakdown voltage of an impulse to the crest value of the power-frequency flashover, sparkover or breakdown voltage.

Impulse Strength

The voltage breakdown of insulation under voltage surges on the order of microseconds in duration.

Impulse Test

An insulation test in which the voltage applied is an impulse voltage of specified wave shape.

In Phase

The condition existing when waves pass through their maximum and minimum values of like polarity at the same instant.

In Tandem

An arrangement of stands in a rolling mill, one after another, so that the piece, being rolled can travel in one direction through a number of stands. Contrast with in train. See Continuous Mill. Also describes multiple production machines such as wiredrawing machines electronically connected to an extruder where conductor is drawn, insulated and packaged in one operation.

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