| Addition Agent | (english) 1) Any material added to a charge of molten metal in bath or ladle to bring alloy to specifications, 2) reagent added to plating bath. |
| Aging 1 | (english) A change in the properties of certain metal and alloys (such as steel) that occurs at ambient or moderately elevated temperatures after a hot working heat treatment or cold working operation. Typical properties impacted are hardness, yield strength, tensile strength, ductility, impact value, formability, magnetic properties, etc. See also Non-aging. |
| Aging 2 | (english) A change in properties that occurs at ambient or moderately elevated temperatures after hot working or a heat treating operation (quench aging in ferrous alloys), or after a cold working operation (strain aging). The change in properties is often, but not always, due to a phase change (precipitation), but does not involve a change in chemical composition. In a metal or alloy, a change in properties that generally occurs slowly at room temperature and more rapidly at higher temperatures. |
| Babbitt | (english) An antifriction metal alloy used for bearing inserts;made of tin,antimony,lead and copper. |
| Backer (back-up plate) | (english) A “tool” or reinforcing part, which presses against the outer surface of an extrusion die, supporting it against the pressure of the extruding metal. The backer has an opening larger than the die aperture, allowing the extruded product to emerge without marring its soft surface. |
| Backward Extrusion | (english) Forcing metal to flow in a direction opposite to the motion of a punch or die. |
| Backwardation | (english) Market condition where the spot, or current price for a metal is higher than the three-month delivery price. This usually indicates immediate demand is perceived to be stronger than long-term demand. Not considered to be a "normal" market state (See Contango). |
| Band Saw Steel (Wood) | (english) A hardened tempered bright polished high carbon cold rolled spring steel strip produced especially for use in the manufacture of band saws for sawing wood, non ferrous metals, and plastics. Usually carries some nickel and with a Rockwell value of approximately C40/45. |
| Banded Structure | (english) Appearance of a metal showing parallel bands in the direction of rolling or working |
| Bars | (english) A relatively long straight, rigid piece pf metal; long steel products rolled from billets into such shapes as squares,rectangles, rounds,angles,channels,hexagons,and tees. In steel, “merchant bars” include rounds,flats,angles,squares,and channels that are used by fabricators to manufacture a wide variety of products such as furniture,stair railings and farm equipment. Concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) is used to strengthen concrete in highways,bridges and buildings. |