Metal Glossary

Designed to be a quick reference guide for customers, the Cashmores glossary provides definitions of the latest metal industry terms.

Metal Glossary

Designed to be a quick reference guide for customers, the Cashmores glossary provides definitions of the latest metal industry terms.

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Partial Annealing

Thermal treatment, after cold working, of a work-piece to reduce its strength to a controlled, but not fully softened, level.
Passivation

Treatment in oxidising acids to remove light surface contamination by iron based materials left by machining or wire brushing and to enhance the naturally occurring chromium oxide film. Any residual contaminants can act as sites for corrosion cells. Heavy contamination or other contaminants (mill scale, etc.) should be removed by acid pickling before passivation.
Passive Film, Oxide Film

Generally it is the oxide layer spontaneously formed on the surface of a metal or alloy by its reaction with the oxygen in the atmosphere. Specifically in stainless steels it is the protective chromium oxide film that forms on alloys containing more than 10.5% chromium that is impervious to many corroding media. It is why stainless steels are “stainless”.
Patina

The greenish layer that naturally develops on Copper exposed to the atmosphere. Chemically it is a complex mixture of Chlorides, Carbonates and Sulphides. Pre-patinated sheet is used for roofing applications.
Percentage Elongation after Fracture (A)

The gauge length elongation after fracture expressed as a percentage of the original gauge length.
Peripheral Grain Band, Peripheral Coarse Grain

An effect shown in extruded products and also forgings made from extruded stock. It is an area of recrystallised grains at the periphery which has lower properties than the non-recrystallised core.
Phase

Any constituent part of an alloy, e.g. elemental metal, solid solution, or inter-metallic compound, that is physically and chemically homogeneous and distinct within the microstructure.
Phosphor Bronze
Leaded Phosphor Bronze

Hard and strong cast and wrought Copper/Tin alloys with small, deliberate, Phosphorus additions. Wrought alloys such as PB102 contain 4% to 8% Tin, whilst cast alloys contain 9% to 12% Tin. Leaded Phosphor Bronzes, with Lead contents up to 20% ,are usually available only as castings – Examples are PB1 and SAE660.
Physical Properties

The intrinsic properties of a material, e.g. density, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion that govern its behaviour and potential for use in an application.
Pick-up

Irregular surface roughness or damage caused by adhesion and subsequent fracture or tearing between the forming tools and the work piece.
Pickling, Acid Pickling

The removal, by immersion in a solution containing nitric and hydrofluoric acids, of the scale left after hot working or annealing. It leaves a matt grey finish.
Related Terms: Passivation
Pinch Passing, Skin Passing

A cold rolling pass, with minimal reduction of thickness, of annealed sheet or strip. It reduces the tendency to kinks, flats and stretcher strains on subsequent manipulation. Flat material so treated is described as 'skin passed', 'pinch passed', 'non-kinking', 'non-flatting' or 'killed'. The material will also be brighter and have closer tolerances.

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Metal Glossary

Metal Glossary

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