Most Frequent Used Terms In Metals
There are a variety of terms used in the metals industry to describe different properties and processes. Here are some of the most common:
1. Alloy;
A material made by combining two or more metals. Alloys are often created to improve the strength or other properties of a metal.
2. Annealing;
A process of heating and cooling a metal to improve its ductility and reduce brittleness.
3. Casting;
A process that is used to make metal parts by pouring a liquid metal into a mold and then allowing it to harden.
4. Coking;
This is a side effect of casting; it occurs when air bubbles form during cooling in the mold and react with the molten metal, creating carbon. Coking releases fumes of toxic chemicals, so workers are required to wear safety masks when cokeing or cleaning up after cokeing.
5. Ductility;
The ability of a metal or alloy to be drawn into wire or thin rods.
6. Hardness;
A quality that describes how well a metal resists scratches, denting, and other forms of damage.
7. Melt/Molding/Pouring temperature;
The temperature at which the molten metal is ready to be poured into a mold or used in another process in the manufacturing plant.
8. Melting point;
The temperature at which the solid becomes a liquid and no longer creates dross. This can be used to determine the strength and other properties of the metal.
9. Molybdenum;
A naturally occurring element found in traces in steel and other metals. It is non-toxic, but it remains a mystery as to its ability to cause cancer in people working with it. This element was named after the Greek word for “Stench”.
10. Oxidation;
A process that changes the structure of a metal, leading to its corrosion.
11. Oxide;
A naturally formed compound in which one or more atoms of an element are combined with oxygen from the air.
12. Pouring temperature;
The temperature used to heat a piece of milling or other metal until it is liquid and can be poured into a mold.
13. Production process;
Processes used to make different metals, including milling processes and casting processes.
14. Recycling;
The processes used to break down metal into its reusable parts and byproducts.
14. Roll/Rolling;
A technique that is used to shape metal by passing it through a rolling mill (roller).
15. Steel;
Metals made with iron and other metals, including carbon and manganese.
16. Temper/Temperament;
A process in which the structure of the metal is altered by heating it so that it becomes softer or harder, depending on the process.
17. Temperature;
The measurement of an object’s temperature.
18. Tungsten carbide;
A material used to harden and temper steel, providing exceptional wear resistance and heat resistant properties. It is also used in drill bits in the oil industry.
19. Vaporization/Vaporization process;
A method for producing steel by passing oxygen through a special gasifies furnace, which causes metal to turn into a gas that can be cooled and condensed as an ingot.
20. Welding;
A process in which metal is joined by being melted and then cooled, usually with a torch or an electric arc.
21. Cold working;
The process of shaping a metal at a temperature below its recrystallization temperature. Cold working can improve the strength and hardness of a metal.
22. Ferrous;
A naturally occurring form of iron.
23. High carbon;
A term used to describe steel that has a carbon content in excess of 0.3%.
24. Hot working;
The process of shaping metal at temperatures above its recrystallization temperature. Hot working can improve the hardness and tensile strength, but not ductility, of metal.
25. Interstitial atoms;
Atoms that are interspersed between the lattice structure of a metal. These atoms are often impurities, but in some cases can be intentionally added to alter a metals properties (e.g. MnO).
26. Magnetic;
A term used to describe a material that becomes magnetized.
27. Magnetic particle;
The magnetic particles in steel are the small clusters of smaller metal particles that cause it to become magnetic.
28. Manganese;
A form of manganese (Mn) used to make alloy steel and increase its strength.
29. Metallurgical grade steel;
A steel that has been made up of material with a purity in excess of 99%. These materials are typically low-cost, unalloyed steels.
30. Nickel;
A form of nickel (Ni) used to make alloy steel. These steels are typically stronger and more resistant to stress corrosion than other steel alloys.
31. Plastic deformation;
The process of deforming metal by slow stretching or bending it to increase its ductility and workability. Plastic deformation is generally performed at room temperature, rather than at a higher temperatures (as in the case of hot working).
32. Lattice structure;
Are three-dimensional, open-celled structures that have a topologically ordered structure and are made of one or more repeating unit cells. The size of these cells and the connection of their component strut parts, which are coupled at certain nodes, are what characterize them.
33. Recrystallization temperature;
The minimum temperature at which a metal will be malleable when it is slowly cooled from its recrystallization temperature.
34. Transformation temperatures;
The temperatures at which a metals crystal lattice changes from one form to another.
35 Ferric;
A naturally occurring form of iron.
36. Nickel-based alloy;
An alloy made with nickel and other metals. Nickel is a very strong, hard, and corrosion-resistant metal. It is used in stainless steel alloys to increase strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance. Nickel alloys also hold their shape well on the annealing process.
37. Eutectic;
A mixture of two or more elements that solidifies at a lower temperature than any of the individual elements.
38. Hardening;
A process that can improve the toughness and strength of a metal.
39. Honing;
A process that removes machining marks from a metal surface.
40. Oxidation;
A chemical reaction in which oxygen replaces part of the metal’s original atoms. Oxidation usually leads to a loss in strength, hardness, and other properties of a metal.
41. Oxide:
A compound formed by combining metals with oxygen. Oxides are often prepared using a heating process called anodizing (austenitization).
42. Porosity;
The presence of voids, pockets, or empty spaces in a metal. Porosity can reduce the strength and hardness of a metal.
43. Recrystallization;
A process that involves the transformation of a metal’s microscopic grains into larger grains. Recrystallization usually occurs at high temperatures.
44. Recrystallize;
To change the size and shape of microscopic grains in a metal through the application of high temperature. Recrystallizing causes metals to become harder and stronger.
45. Resistance;
The ability of a metal to resist penetration or infiltration by another metal.
46. Sintering;
A process that involves the formation of bonds between the grains of a metal during high temperature. Sintering can improve the strength, hardness, and other properties of a metal.
47. Stainless steel;
A type of steel that has both low carbon content and relatively high chromium content. Stainless steel resists corrosion, rusting, and other forms of corrosion.
48. Tempering;
A process that involves heating and then slowly cooling certain types of weapons. Tempering can improve a metal’s strength, hardness, and other properties.
49. Titanium dioxide;
A mineral that can be used to harden the surface of metals. The addition of titanium dioxide to a metal causes it to become harder, more durable, and more scratch resistant.
50. Torque;
A force applied by a rotating force, like a drill bit, that causes rotation of the machine. Torque is measured in pounds-feet.
51. Void;
An empty space within a material that reduces its strength, hardness, and other properties. Voids can occur at grain boundaries or internal to the material.
52. Zirconium;
A chemical element that has a high tendency to bond with other elements to form compounds. Zirconium, like titanium and niobium, is sometimes added to metals for those purposes.
53. Weld Blanket;
When welding or cutting, the use of a weld blanket prevents sparks and molten steel from causing damage to the surrounding area, scarring it, or starting a fire.
54. Weld Test;
Visual testing, destructive testing, and non-destructive tests are all included in the welding process known as the weld test.
55. Semi-automatic welding;
When the device automatically runs the filler metal and supply the shielding gas, but a person is still required to pull the trigger and handle the gun in order to create the weld.
56. Seam weld;
Seam weld is when the seam is positioned wherein a two plates, strips contact. Half of the weld pool should go to either side of the seam
57. Actual throat;
Refers to the minimal distance between the root and face of a fillet weld.
58. Arc blow;
Arc blow is the divergence of an electric arc from its normal course owing to magnetic fields.
59. Arc force;
The forward movement of the central electrode due to the electric arc.
During welding, arc force prevents the electrode from sticking. When the arc is too short, arc force is a brief rise in the output current during welding.
This feature facilitates dependably outstanding arc effectiveness in production. It also improves basic position welding, which makes the process simpler.
The arc force may be accurately regulated using a simple knob in order to create exceptional weld work rate on a range of electrodes (rutile, basic, and cellulose). To obtain a smooth arc with less splatter, turn the knob to its lowest position (rutile, basic). For a sharper, more penetrating arc, set it to maximum.
60. Arc flash;
Is a phenomena in which a flashover of electric current flows through the air from one conductors to another, or to ground. When a person is in close proximity to an arc flash, he or she may suffer severe injuries or perhaps die.
61. Asynchronous welder generator;
Asynchronous generators are alternators that use an air-gap spinning magnetic field between the stator and rotor to operate with an induced current in the rotor winding.
Since there is no collector ring, brush, or rotor activation winding, an asynchronous generator is maintenance-free. Sometimes referred to as an induction generator. The overall efficiency is superior to that of a synchronous generator with the identical capacity and speed.
Red-D-GX200 Arc’s DC CC gas engine welder produces welding current using an asynchronous generator.
62. Automatic welding;
Welding done with machinery that automatically executes the welding procedure without the need for a welding operator to manually alter the settings. It is possible that the machinery will not be able to execute the loading and unloading of the cargo.
63. Axis of a weld;
A line that runs across the length of a weld, perpendicular to its cross section, and throughout the geometric center of that section.
64. Bare electrode;
A filler metal electrode composed of a single metal or alloy that has been formed into a wire, strip, or bar form and that has had no coating or covering added to it other than that which was integral to its creation or maintenance.
65. Bare metal welding;
An electric arc welding procedure that generates coalescence of metals by heating them with an electric arc that passes between a bare or lightly coated metal electrode and the work. This heats the metals, which in turn causes them to coalesce.
Filler metal is acquired from the electrode, with neither shielding nor pressure being utilized in the process. (The use of this procedure in industrial settings is now considered archaic.)
66. Base metal;
This is a metal to be welded, brazed and soldered.
