Not identical on both sides of a central line: unsymmetrical.

See Controlled Atmosphere.

The male connector for electrical cords.

The male connector for electrical cords.

The measure (ratio) of the magnitude of the power of a signal in transmission between points. A decrease in attenuation can be caused by power loss in the dielectric, conductor losses and radiation, attenuation is usually measured in decibels per unit length (db/ft) at a specific frequency. It is used in cable manufacturing where the cable is sized to meet application needs. Attenuation is very dependent on signal frequency. A cable that works very well with low frequency data may do very poorly at higher data rates. Cables with lower attenuation are better. Another different yet related aspect is insertion loss (see entry).

The difference between attenuation and crosstalk, measured in dB, at a given frequency.

Capable of being heard by humans.

Small diameter shielded and jacketed wire used in wiring radio and TV consoles, panels, etc.

Pertaining to that band of frequency that is audible to the human ear. Usually 20-20,000 cycles per second.

The first type of long-distance trunk telephone cable to be developed for use at voice frequency.

Technical information, which is documented and organized, so as to be readily understandable and traceable to independently verify inferences.

A thermomechanical process combining heat treatment and mechanical hot working of metal to produce a structure with improved properties.

A process for increasing the ductility of steel without serious alteration of hardness or tensile strength. It comprises quenching from a temperature above the transformation range to some temperature above the upper limit for martensite formation, and holding at this temperature until the austentite is completely transformed to bainite.

The size of the grains present in the steel when it was in the austenite phase. The austenite phase occurs at elevated temperatures, generally above 816°C (1500°F).

Steel that consists of austenite at atmospheric temperatures. That condition exists because of the presence of high percentages of certain alloying elements such as manganese and nickel. Most austenite steels are non-magnetic.

The process of forming austenite by heating a ferrous alloy to temperatures in the transformation range.

This is the name for any solid solution in which gamma iron is the solvent. It is a phase in steel where it consists of face-centered cubic iron with carbon in solid solution. It is non-magnetic and unstable at room temperature. Austenite is a structure name and means nothing as to composition. It is the structure from which all quenching heat treatments must start.

Pertaining to degradation of certain materials whereby the breakdown products of the initial phase of their degradation accelerate the rate at which subsequent degradation proceeds.

A heated pressure vessel used to bond, cure, and seal or used for environmental testing.

A device to transfer a load from one power source to another, usually from normal to emergency source and back.