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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Melt
Cast, Heat

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.
Multi-Hole Die

An extrusion die, with more than one hole, allowing multiple extrusions to be made simultaneously from one billet.
Natural Ageing

The process that can alter the hardness and strength in some alloys after a period of time at ambient (room) temperature. It is caused by the spontaneous precipitation of constituents from a super-saturated solid solution. Generally it increases mechanical properties but can also, in some circumstances, cause loss of properties by over-ageing.
Related Terms: Ageing, Age Hardening, Over-ageing, Precipitation Hardening
Non-Heat Treatable Alloy

An alloy, from the 1xxx, 3xxx and 5xxx series that are incapable of being strengthened by thermal treatment. These alloys gain their strength from cold-working.
Oil Staining

Surface staining caused by the partial decomposition during thermal treatment of residual lubricant.
Orange Peel

A roughening, on subsequent cold deformation, of the surface of sheet or strip when the grain size is too coarse. Has the appearance of an orange skin.
Ore

Bauxite - A red rock found in the earth's crust, close to the surface. Extracted by open-cast mining it is a very rich ore with a 25% yield.
Ovality

Any variation from a true circle of the cross section of a round tube, bar or wire.
Over-ageing

Artificial ageing treatment at too high a temperature, or for too long a time, after the maximum hardening effect has been achieved. It causes some loss of properties. In some cases it may be a deliberate act, e.g. to improve resistance to stress corrosion or to minimise any further loss of properties in alloys operating at higher temperatures.
Partial Annealing

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

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Metal Glossary

Metal Glossary

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