Glossary of Steel Terms

Glossary of Steel Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Earing
Wavy projections formed at the open end of a cup or shell in the course of deep drawing because of difference in directional properties. Also termed scallop.

Earing
The formation of scallops (ears) around the top edge of a drawn part caused by differences in the directional properties of the sheet metal used.

Eddy-Current Testing
Nondestructive testing method in which eddy-curent flow is induced in the test object. Changes in the flow caused by variations in the object are reflected into a nearby coil or coils for subsequent analysis by suitable instrumentation and techniques.

Edge Filing
A method whereby the raw or slit edges of strip metal are passed or drawn one or more times against a series of files, mounted at various angles. This method may be used for deburring only or filing to a specific contour including a completely rounded edge.

Edge Strain or Edge Breaks
Creases extending in from the edge of the temper rolled sheet.

Edges
Many types of edges can be produced in the manufacture of flat rolled metal products. Over the years the following types of edges have become recognized as standard in their respective fields. Copper Base Alloys- Slit, Slit and Edge Rolled, Sheared, Sawed, Machined or Drawn. Sheet Steels or Aluminum Sheet- Mill Edge, Slit Edge or Sheared Edge. Strip Steels and Stainless Strip. No. 1 Edge A- Smooth, uniform, round or square edge, either slit or filed or slit and edge rolled as specified, width tolerance +/- .005. No. 2 Edge- A natural sound mill edge carried through from the hot rolled band. Has not been slit, filed, or edge rolled. Tolerances not closer than hot-rolled strip limits. No. 3 Edge - Square, produced by slitting only. Not filed. Width tolerances close. No. 4 Edge - A round edge produced by edge rolling either from a natural mill edge or from slit edge strip. Not as perfect as No. 1 edge. Width tolerances liberal. No. 5 Edge - An approximately square edge produced by slitting and filing or slitting and rolling to remove burr. No. 6 Edge - A square edge produced by square edge rolling, generally from square edge hot-rolled occasionally from slit strip. Width tolerances and finish not as exancting as No. 1 edge.

Edging
The dressing of metal strip edges by rolling, filing or drawing.

Elastic Limit
Maximum stress that a material will stand before permanent deformation occurs.

Elastic Limit
The maximum stress to which a material may be subjected without any permanent strain remaining upon complete release of stress.

Elastic Limit
The maximum stress to which a material may be subjected without any permanent strain remaining upon complete release of the stress.

Elastic Strain
Dimensional changes accompanying stress where the original dimensions are restored upon release of the stress.

Electocleaning (Electrolytic Brightening)
An anodic treatment. A cleaning, polishing, or oxidizing treatment i which the specimen or work is made the anode in a suitable electrolyte; an inert metal is used as cathode and a potential is applied.

Electric Furnace Steel
Steel made in any furnace where heat is generated electrically, almost always by arc. Because of relatively high cost, only tool steels and other high-value steels are made by the electric furnace process.

Electro-Galvanizing
Galvanizing by Electro deposition of zinc on steel.

Electrolytic Tin Plate
Black Plate that has been Tin plated on both sides with commercially pure tin by electrodeposition.

Electron Beam Microprobe Analyzer
An instrument for selective chemical analysis of a small volume of material. An electron beam bombards the area of interest and x-radiation thereby emitted is analyzed in a spectrometer.

Electroplating
The production of a thin coating of one metal on another by electodeposition. It is very extensively used in industry and is continuing to enlarge its useful functions. Various plated metal and combinations therof are being used for different purposes, to illustrate: 1. Decorative and protection against corrosion copper, nickel and chromium. 2. Protection against corrosionn cadmium or zinc. 3. Protection against wear chromium. 4. Build-up of a part or parts undersize chromium or nickel. 5. Pate for rubber adhesion brass. 6. Protection against carburization and for brazing operations copper and nickel

Electropolishing
Improving the specular reflectivity of a metal surface by electrochemical dissolution.

Elongation
Increase in length which occurs before a metal is fractured, when subjected to stress. This is usually expressed as a percentage of the original length and is a measure of the ductility of the metal.

Elongation
In tensile testing, the increase in the gauge length, measured after fracture of the specimen within the gauge length, usually expressed as a percentage of the original gauge length.

Elongation After Fracture
In tensile testing, the increase in the gauge length measured after fracture of the specimen within the gauge length and usually expressed as a percentage of the original gauge length.

Embossing
Raising or indenting a design in relief on a sheet or strip of metal by passing between rolls of desired pattern.

Endurance Limit
Same as fatigue limit.

Endurance Limit
Maximum alternating stress which a given material will withstand for an infinite number of times without causing fatigue failure.

Epitaxy
Induced orientation of the lattice of a crystal of a surface deposit by the lattice of the substrate crystal.

Eqilibrium Diagram
A graphical representation of the temperature, pressure and composition limits of phase fields in an alloy system as they exist under conditions of thermodynamical equilibrium. In condensed systems, pressure is usually considered constant.

Equiaxed Structure
A structure in which the grains have approximately the same dimensions in all directions.

Erichsen Test
Similar to the Olsen Test. Readings are in millimeters.

Erichsen Test
A cupping test in which a piece of sheet metal, restrained except at the center, is deformed by a cone-shaped spherical-end plunger until fracture occurs. The height of the cup in millimeters at fracture is a measure of the ductility.

Etchant
A chemical solution used to etch a metal to reveal structural details.

Etching
Subjecting the surface of a metal to preferential chemical or electrolytic attack to reveal structural details.

Etching
In metallography, the process of revealing structural details by the preferential attack of reagents on a metal surface.

Eutectoid
(1) An isothermal reversible transformation in which a solid solution is converted into two or more intimately mixed solids, the number of solids formed being the same as the number of components in the system. (2) An alloy having the composition indicated by the eutectoid point on an equilibrium diagram. (3) An alloy structure of intermixed solid constituents formed by a eutectoid transformation.

Eutectoid Steel
Steel representing the eutectoid composition of the iron-carbon system, with about 0.80% to 0.83% carbon, the eutectoid temperature being about 1333 (degrees) F. Such steel in the annealed condition consists exclusively of pearlite. Steels with less than this quota of carbon are known as hypo-eutectoid and contain free ferrite in addition to the pearlite. When more carbon is present, the steel is known as hyper-eutectoid and contains free cementite. The presence of certain elements, such as nickel or chromium, lowers the eutedtoid carbon content.

Exfoliation
A type of corrosion that progresses approximately parallel to the outer surface of the metal, causing layers of the metal to be elevated by the formation of corrosion product.

Expander Steel
Hardened and tempered, blue polished. Carbon content about 1.00, Chromium .17. Used for the expanders in oil piston rings. Hardness 30 N 70 to 73. Range of sizes run for grooves 3/32 to 1/4 wide with the steel approximately .003 less than the grooves and thickness from .012 to .020.

Extensometer
An apparatus for indicating the deformation of metal while it is subjected to stress.

Extensometer Test
The measurement of deformation during stressing in the elastic range, permitting determination of elastic properties such as properties such as proportional limit, proof stress, yield strength by the offset method and so forth. Requires the use of special testing equipment and testing procedures such as the use of an extensometer or the plotting of a stress-strain diagram.

Extra Hard Temper
In brass mill terminology, Extra Hard is six B&S numbers hard or 50.15% reduction from the previous annealing or soft stage.

Extra Spring Temper
In brass mill terminology. Extra Spring is ten numbers hard or 68.55% reduction in thickness from the previous annealing or soft stage.

Extrusion
Shaping metal into a chosen continuous form by forcing it through a die of appropriate shape.