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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

Partial Discharge Extinction Level

See Voltage, Corona Extinction.

Pascal

The derived SI unit for pressure or stress. One pascal equals one Newton per square meter.

PASP

Designation for an air core (unfilled) direct burial telephone cable used in areas subject to rodent attack. It has a cable sheath consisting of an inner polyethylene (P) jacket, corrugated aluminum (A) shield, corrugated steel (S) tape and an outer polyethylene (P) jacket.

Pass

1) Movement of a metal through a stand of rolls. 2) The open space between two grooved rolls through which the metal being processed is rolled. A term for the passing of a wire through a die, or a rod through the rolls, to reduce the cross-sectional area or alter the shape.

Passivation

The changing of the chemically active surface of a metal to a much less reactive state. See Activation.

Paste Lubricant

A wiredrawing lubricant, also referred to as grease, which is commonly used in single pass applications to achieve a clean bright surface finish.

Paste Mixer

A device used in the manufacture of plastic compounds that are used for insulation and jackets on insulated wire and cable. The device’s primary purpose is the mixing and kneading of heavy viscous compounds such as bulk-molding compounds and other highly filled compounds.

Patch

To connect circuits together temporarily.

Patch Cable

Patch Cable

A cable with plugs or terminals on each end of the conductor or conductors used to connect circuits of equipment temporarily.

Patch Cord

A length of cable with connectors on one or both ends used to join telecommunications links/circuits at the cross-connect. Usually braid covered with plugs or terminals on each end. The cord temporarily “patches” a circuit and a patch cord is always fitted with connectors at both ends.

Patch Cord Cable

Bulk cable used in the manufacture of patch cords.

Patch Panel

A cross-connect system of connectors that can be mated which facilitates administration.

Patented Steel Wire

High-carbon steel wire that has been patented at some point during the drawing process. See Patenting.

Patenting

Specialized (generally continuous) annealing process, specifically for medium-carbon or high-carbon steel rod or wire before wiredrawing, or between drafts, to improve consistency of grain structure and tensile strength. This process is also done to reduce stresses from previous drawing (to allow further reduction without degradation of physical properties). The wire is heated above the austenitizing transformation temperature range of 815-982°C (1500-1800°F), held at temperature to assure complete transformation, then cooled in air or a controlled-temperature media of salt or lead below the equilibrium temperature at which austenite begins to form during heating.

Patenting Frames

Groups of blocks for coiling the wires as they leave the patenting furnaces, galvanizing baths or other processing equipment, where the blocks are placed to ensure a clear guide for each wire.

Patenting, Air

Process of patenting steel rod or wire in which the cooling process is performed in air. The tensile strength of air-patented wires is typically lower than that of wires of the same carbon content which have been patented in lead or salt.

Patenting, Electric Resistance

Rod or wire is passed continuously through two baths of molten lead that act as electrical contacts since the length of wire between them conducts electrical current. The second bath is designed to also act as the quenchant. By adjusting the distance between the baths, the current strength or the wire speed as it enters the quench bath at the required temperature.

Patenting, Fluidized Bed

Fluidized beds are used for quenching and intended primarily for high-speed austenitization. The properties of the patented wire are mainly determined by the quench bath conditions.

Patenting, Lead

Patenting of rod or wire by heating in a patenting furnace and then quenching almost immediately in a lead bath held at a temperature of about 500°C. The rod or wire is run through in a continuous process and then recoiled.

Pathway

A facility for the placement of telecommunications cable. See Raceway.

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