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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

Piano Wire

Piano wire is heat-treated high-carbon steel. It is made with many light drafts to produce a high tensile, durable wire with a bright, lustrous, smooth finish. There are two types of piano wire: bass wire, which is used for the core of wrapped piano bass strings; and treble wire, which is a higher tensile strength wire used for the treble strings. This type of wire was once used for light, high duty springs, since replaced by music spring wire (see entry).

PIC

Designation for either 1) Plastic insulated cable used in communications cable. 2) Plastic Insulated Conductor. Conductors covered with an extruded coating of plastic.

PIC Core Lay-ups

Designation for plastic insulated cable core. A version of multiple stranded cable made of polyethylene (PE). It offers ease of coloring plus low dielectric constants as well as excellent tensile elongation and impact resistance properties.

Pick

1) The grouping or band of parallel threads in a braid. 2) Distance between two adjacent crossover points of braid filaments. The measurement in picks per inch indicates the degree of coverage.

Pick-Up

Small particles of oxidized metal adhering to the surface of an extrusion.

Pick-Up Value

The minimum input that will cause a device to complete a designated action.

Pickle

The action taken to chemically or electrochemically clean surfaces of metals by removal of surface oxides. See Acid Cleaning.

Pickle Acid, Spent

Acid pickling involves the dissolution of metal oxide scale in mineral acid, whereby the oxide is converted into a soluble metal compound, which accumulates in the pickle acid. After a period of use, the limit of capacity of the acid to hold the metal salt in solution is reached, and the acid is “spent.” Depend­ing on its composition, spent acid is either neutralized or regenerated.

Pickling

Removal of scale or oxides from metal surfaces by chemical or electrochemical treatment, prior to wiredrawing. This is usually done by immersion in dilute mineral acid. This process is also called acid cleaning or chemical descaling. Note: removal of other contaminants, such as oil or lube coatings, is chemical cleaning, not pickling.

See also: Acid Cleaning

Pickling Acid

The highly reactive fluid used to remove oxides and scale from the surface of metal. Normally, dilute inorganic acids (such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric or phosphoric) are used for pickling.

Pickling Acid Disposal

Spent acid or pickle liquor that is no longer usable to clean metal can be disposed of by neutralization, removal of solids and dis­charging of the clear water into sewers. The method adopted depends on governing regulations regarding discharge and hauling away of the solids.

Pickling Acid Regeneration

The treatment of spent pickling acid through chemical or physical modification. The process removes accumulated dissolved metal and produces regenerated acid for return to the pickle tank. In the case of sulfuric acid used to clean ferrous metals, a simple chilling of the spent liquid causes crystallization and separation of the iron in the form of iron sulfate crystals.

Pickling Inhibitor

A proprietary liquid that is added to pickling acid in small amounts (typically 0.25 to 0.5% by volume of raw acid) to limit acid attack on the base metal, without affecting the dissolution of the oxides and scale.

Pickling Neutralization

Spent pickling acids, rinse water and scrubber water are neutralized to a pH of 7 to 9 with lime, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, occasionally ammonia (outside U.S.) or other alkaline materials. The treatment depends on local regulations. Most local authorities do not allow solids to be discharged into sewers, and the filtered sludge has to be deposited according to government regulations.

Pickling Plant

An area that contains plastic- or brick-lined tanks (with or without heating), rinse tanks, storage tanks, fume removal equipment, cranes or conveyors for moving product, coating tanks, acid-resistant flooring and an acid-recovery system. Sometimes referred to as a pickle house, pickle line, cleaning house or pickle room.

Pickling Time

The length of time a coil must be immersed in acid to descale the entire surface of the steel. It is dependent on: the acid type, concentration and temperature; the carbon or alloy content of the steel; the size of the rod or wire; and whether the coils are banded or unbanded. Times vary from 5 min or less for wire pickling after annealing, to 60 min or more for heavy alloy rod.

Pickling, Electrolytic

A method of cleaning materials by electrolysis, using an acid solution as the electrolyte and the metal to be cleaned as the cathode. See Bullard Dunn Process.

Pickling, Fume Control System

A mechanical forced draft system that draws air from the area above open pickle tanks, in order to protect workers and equipment from escaping acid fumes. Most pickle lines use “push-pull” exhaust systems, consisting of a push fan and header to blow a jet of air across the tank surface; side exhaust hoods to collect the fumes; ducting; a fume scrubber; and a suction fan.

Pickling, Iron Loss In

The amount of iron dissolved during the pickling process, expressed as a percentage of the coil weight. Most of the iron loss comes from the oxide scale on the surface, so it is not a loss of metal. Typical iron loss for rod-coil is 0.75%; for wire, 0.1 to 0.2%.

Pickling, Rinsing Water

After pickling, water rinsing is required to remove acid from the metal surface. The pH of the final rinse should be controlled in the range 4 to 5 to avoid flash rusting. Rinse water usually requires treatment before discharge to sewer.
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