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.

1 2

Half Hard

Material in the Half Hard Condition, sometimes refetrred to as H02 is at an intermediate strength and hardness netween Soft and Full Hard
Hall Heroult Process
Smelting

The main process used for the production of Aluminium metal whereby Alumina is dissolved in a salt bath of molten cryolite and subject to an electrolysis process. Often referred to as Smelting, this process uses very large amounts of electricity. Named after two scientists who developed the process independently of each other at around the same time.
Hall-Heroult Process

The main process used for the production of Aluminium metal whereby Alumina is dissolved in a salt bath of molten cryolite and subject to an electrolysis process. Often referred to as Smelting, this process uses very large amounts of electricity. Named after two scientists who developed the process independently of each other at around the same time – Hall, English and Heroult, French.
Hardness
Brinell Hardness, Rockwell Hardness, Vickers Hardness

The resistance of a metal to plastic deformation usually by indentation using a diamond or a hardened steel ball. There are various recongnised hardness scales including Vickers (VPN), Brinell and Rockwell. N.B. The empirical, but robust, relationship between hardness and tensile properties that applies in steels does not apply, and the steel tables must not be used for aluminium and its alloys. A less rigorous relationship has been established for some aluminium alloys but it is not widely used.
Hardness Test

A test conducted to measure Hardness. A load is applied to an indenter to press it into the surface of the test piece. The indenter can be either a ball of various standard diameters or a diamond of one of several specified geometric profiles. The result of the test is reported as a Hardness Number which is derived from either a measurement of the depth to which the indenter penetrates or from the surface area of the impression left by the indenter.
Related Terms: Hardness
HDHC

Hard-Drawn High-Conductivity Copper CW004A/C101
Heat
Cast, Melt

These terms are used interchangeably to refer to the product of a single melting furnace charge. Sometimes the furnace contents are tapped into two or more ladles when the product of each ladle may be called a separate cast. It is always assumed that the chemical composition of an entire cast will be uniform. This is described as the “cast analysis” on a Certificate of Conformity etc.
Heat
Cast, Melt

These terms are used interchangeably for the product of a single melting or refining furnace charge. Occasionally, if the furnace contents are cast into a number of different forms, these may be called separate casts.
Heat Exchanger

A device that facilitates the efficient transfer of heat energy from one fluid to another. The fluids are often kept apart by solid barriers, either the walls of tubes, or the formed sheets of clam shell type heat exchangers. Typically a heat exchanger will have many tubes or clam shells assembled in either bundles or stacks connected by manifolds. One fluid flows outside the assembly whilst the other flows inside.
Heat Treatable Alloy

Any of the 2xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx and 8xxx series of wrought aluminium alloys whose mechanical properties can be increased by a solution treatment and age hardening heat treatment cycle.
Heat Treatable Alloy

The description applied specifically to a Copper Alloy whose mechanical properties can be increased by heat treatment, typically solution treatment and age hardening e.g. for Beryllium Copper.
Heat Treatment
The thermal processing of a work-piece specifically to alter its mechanical properties. It includes:-
1. Annealing to soften and improve ductility.
2. Solution treatment and precipitation hardening to increase strength.
It does not include heating before hot rolling, forging or extrusion etc.

1 2

Metal Glossary

Metal Glossary

Contact Us

Cashmores.com

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

ABOUT US

TECHNICAL DATA

LEGAL