| Bolster (die block) | (english) A “tool” or reinforcing part which supports the backer-which, in turn, supports an extruding die against the pressure of extrusion. |
| Bonderizing | (english) The coating of steel with a film composed largely of zinc phosphate in order to develop a better bonding surface for paint or lacquer. |
| Bonding Clay (Bonderise) | (english) Any clay suitable for use as a bonding material. |
| Boron (chemical symbol B) | (english) Element N. 5 of the periodic system. Atomic weight 10.82. It is gray in color, ignites at about 1112 (degrees) F. and burns with a brilliant green flame, but its melting point in a non-oxidizing atmosphere is about 4000 (degrees) F. Boron is used in steel in minute quantities for one purpose only- to increase the hardenability as in case hardening and to increase strength and hardness penetration. |
| Boron Steels | (english) The addition of boron in the range 0.0005-0.005% to certain steels increases the hardenability. A range of boron steels is now listed in the current BS 970 and are widely used for the production of cold headed fastenings. |
| Box Annealing | (english) Annealing a metal or alloy in a sealed container under conditions that minimize oxidation. In box annealing a ferrous alloy, the charge is usually heated slowly to a temperature below the transformation range, but sometimes above or within it, and is then cooled slowly; this process is also called close annealing or pot annealing. |
| Box Annealing 2 | (english) A process of annealing a ferrous alloy in a closed metal container, with or without packing materials, in order to minimize the effects of oxidation. The charge is normally heated slowly to a temperature below the transformation range, but occasionally above or within it, and then is slowly cooled. |
| Brake | (english) A piece of equipment used for bending sheet; also called a bar folder. If operated manually, it is called a hand brake; if power driven, it is called a press brake. |
| Brale | (english) A diamond penetrator, conical in shape, used with a Rockwell hardness tester for hard metals. |
| Brass | (english) An alloy that is 70% copper,30% zinc. One of the most widely used of the copper-zinc alloys; malleable and ductile; excellent cold-working but poor hot-working and machining properties; excellent for soft-soldering; good for silver alloy brazing or oxyacetylene welding, but fair for resistance or carbon-arc welding. Used for drawn cartridges, tubes, eyelets machine items and snap fasteners. |