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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Extrusion

The process in which a preheated billet is constrained within a strong container in a press and then pushed by a ram through a shaped die. The product, also called an extrusion, has the shape of the die along its whole length. Angles, rectangles, rounds and hexagons are common shapes of extruded bar, whilst tubes are frequently hollow extrusions. With Copper Alloys, extrusion is very often followed by cold drawing to improve tolerances, surface finish and mechanical properties.
Feedstock

A semi-finished material that is used to 'feed' the next process. For example continuously cast billet is the feedstock for extrusion and continuously cast rod or bar may be the feedstock for wire making.
Flotation

A mineral beneficiation technique used to concentrate ore by blowing air through a tank in which ore particles are suspended in water that contains additions that make the ore more hydrophilic. The ore clings to the bubbles and is scraped off as 'froth'.
Free Machining
Free Cutting, High Speed Machining

Terms that are used interchangeably to describe materials that can be turned, drilled or otherwise machined using high cutting speeds and feeds to leave a good surface finish with low tool wear and no appreciable build-up of swarf around the cutting tool. The addition of Lead to Copper alloys usually improves machinability. The brass CW614N (CZ121 Pb3) has one of the fastest rates of metal removal, but ductility is compromised. This brass sets the machinability standard against which the machinability of all other alloys are measured.
Gilding Metals

Alpha Brasses with 80% to 90% Copper content and no other alloying constituents apart from Zinc. They have good ductility and are easily brazed or enamelled. They are used for decorative purposes such as jewellery and architectural hardware.
Gunmetal

A Casting Bronze alloy of Copper with Tin (10%) and Zinc (2%). Historically it was used to cast cannons so it is sometimes called Admiralty Gun Metal. It has excellent corrosion resistance in seawater and steam. Leaded Gunmetal containing slightly less Tin, more Zinc and up to 7% Lead is a very useful plain bearing metal.
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
HDHC

Hard-Drawn High-Conductivity Copper CW004A/C101
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 of Copper and its Alloys
A range of heat treatment processes are applied to copper and it alloys including:
- Homogenising
- Annealing
- Stress Relieving
- Solution Treatment and Ageing
- Quench and Temper Hardening
It is important to recognise that not all processes are appropriate for all alloys. Homogenising in which prolonged soaking at elevated temperature is used to reduce solidification chemical segregation in castings particularly in Phosphor Bronzes, Copper Nickels and Silicon Bronzes that have long freezing ranges. Annealing is used to soften and increase ductility and toughness in wrought alloys. Stress relieving is used to relieve internal stresses without significantly affecting mechanical properties. Solution Treatment and Ageing is used on Beryllium Copper, Copper/ Chromium, Copper /Zirconium and Copper/Nickel/Silicon/Chromium alloys to increase mechanical properties. Quench and Temper Hardening is applied to certain Aluminium Bronzes, Nickel Aluminium Bronzes and some cast Manganese Bronzes to increase their mechanical properties.
High Speed Machining
Free Cutting, Free Machining

Terms that are used interchangeably to describe materials that can be turned, drilled or otherwise machined using high cutting speeds and feeds to leave a good surface finish with low tool wear and no appreciable build-up of swarf around the cutting tool. The addition of Lead to Copper alloys usually improves machinability. The brass CW614N (CZ121 Pb3) has one of the fastest rates of metal removal, but ductility is compromised. This brass sets the machinability standard against which the machinability of all other alloys are measured.
High Tensile Brasses

Terms that are used interchangeably to describe materials that can be turned, drilled or otherwise machined using high cutting speeds and feeds to leave a good surface finish with low tool wear and no appreciable build-up of swarf around the cutting tool. The addition of Lead to Copper alloys usually improves machinability. The brass CW614N (CZ121 Pb3) has one of the fastest rates of metal removal, but ductility is compromised. This brass sets the machinability standard against which the machinability of all other alloys are measured.

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Metal Glossary

Metal Glossary

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