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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IACS

International Annealed Copper Standard - a measure of electrical conductivity agreed in 1913 with “pure” Copper set as 100%. Advances in copper refining mean that now the pure Copper can attain 103% IACS. The minimum requirement for High Conductivity Copper now is 101% IACS.
Ident Pips
Pip Lines, Pip Marks, Pips

A marking on an extrusion (on a non-visible surface) placed there by the extrusion mill’s die to allow the mill to identify extrusions produced by that mill.
IMA – Improved Machinability Alloy

Enhanced machinability grades that achieve the improved machinability without the addition of elements like Sulphur that have a negative effect of other properties.
Related Terms: Free Machining Stainless Steels
Immunity

In corrosion terms a thermodynamically stable condition. In other words there is no corrosion attack.
Inclusion

Non-metallic particles within the microstructure. Some, sulphides and selenides, are deliberately formed in the metal during its manufacture, others are an inevitable result of melting and casting. Good practice dictates that the second type be kept to minimal levels as they are deleterious.
Related Terms: Free Machining Stainless Steels
Indirect Extrusion
Backwards Extrusion

The extrusion method in which there is no relative movement between the billet and the container. This is accomplished by:- Either pushing the die held on the end of a long, hollow, stem through the billet. Or moving the billet and container together over the die, again held on the end of a long, hollow, stem. As there is no movement between the billet and container the friction, and hence extrusion loads, are reduced by up to 30% compared to direct extrusion and grain structures can be improved. The process is limited by the size, length and strength of the stem which holds the die.
Related Terms: Direct Extrusion
Ingot

A cast product that may be various shapes including slab, billet, bloom or more complex shapes. Produced by pouring liquid aluminium into a shaped mould and allowing it to cool.
Ingot Casting
Casting
The pouring of molten metal into a mould or die where it is allowed to solidify. When solidified, the resultant 'casting' takes on the shape and approximate dimensions of the mould. Examples:
- Ingot for forging or other hot working
- Intermediate uses include extrusion billets, slabs for rolling, forging blanks.
- End use: valve body.
Integral Colour Anodising

Coloured surfaces developed either by anodising certain Aluminium alloys and/or by using special organic electrolytes that produce colours during anodising.
Inter-granular Corrosion

Preferential, concentrated, corrosion attack at the grain boundaries. It is highly deleterious and usually caused by the precipitation of carbide particles in the grain boundaries after welding or incorrect thermal processing.
Related Terms: Sensitisation, Sensitised, Weld Decay
Internal Stress

Stresses within a work-piece caused by previous treatments, e.g. casting, thermal treatment or fabrication.
ISO

The International Standards Organisation responsible for the ISO range of standards.

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Metal Glossary

Metal Glossary

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