Abbreviation for Aerospace Material Specification.

Abbreviation for American National Standards Institute.

Abbreviation for Aluminum Standards and Data book published by The Aluminum Association.

Abbreviation for American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Abbreviation for American Society for Testing and Materials.

A system of conventional designations of standard wire diameters. For example, 10 gauge denotes wire of 0.135-inch diameter. In the AWG system, higher numbers designate smaller wire diameters and lower numbers designate larger diameters.

Abbreviation for American Welding Society.

Difference between the average result of a measurement with a particular instrument and the true value of the quantity being measured.

Bonding strength. The attraction of a coating to the surface to which it is applied.

Die with inserts in the core and/or plate that can be adjusted to compensate for deflection or replaced because of wear.

An aging process that results in increased strength and hardness.

Spontaneous decrease of strength and hardness that takes place at room temperature in certain strain hardened alloys containing magnesium.

Precipitation from solid solution resulting in a change in properties of an alloy, usually occurring slowly at room temperature (natural aging) and more rapidly at elevated temperatures (artificial aging).

An aluminum or aluminum-alloy coating that is metallurgically bonded to either one or both surfaces of an aluminum alloy product, and that is anodic to the alloy to which it is bonded, thus electrolytically protecting the core alloy against corrosion. For Alclad products, see specific product such as Plate , Sheet , Tube , or Wire.

A substance with metallic properties, composed of two or more chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. More specifically, aluminum plus one or more other elements, produced to have certain specific, desirable characteristics.

Aluminum oxide produced from bauxite by a complicated chemical process. It is a white powdery material that looks like granulated sugar. Alumina is an intermediate step in the production of aluminum from bauxite, and is also a valuable chemical on its own.

A silver-white soft metal, noted for its lightness, high reflectivity, high thermal conductivity, nontoxicity, and corrosion resistance. It is the most abundant metallic element, comprising about 1/12th of the earth's crust. It is never found in nature as an elemental metal, but only in combination with oxygen and other elements. In ordinary commercial and industrial use, the word aluminum is often understood to mean aluminum alloy, rather than the pure metal.

A chemical compound of aluminum with oxygen, which forms immediately on an unprotected aluminum surface exposed to air. Unlike iron oxide (the rust which forms on steel) aluminum oxide does not flake off, but forms a protective layer that blocks further oxidation and so protects the integrity of the metal. It is transparent and does not alter the appearance of the aluminum surface.

Conformity to, or deviation from, specified angular dimensions in the cross section of a shape or bar.

The deliberate departure from a horizontal passline on the entry side of a rolling mill used for one-side bright rolling.

A ring-like part; or, the orifice of a hollow die, through which extruded metal flows from the press.

A thermal treatment to soften metal by removal of stress resulting from cold working or by coalescing precipitates from solid solution.

Thermal treatment (often, but not always H2X temper nomenclature) given to cold worked metal to reduce strength and increase ductility to controlled levels other than full annealed temper.

Forming a coating on a metal surface produced by electrochemical treatment through anodic oxidation. This process may be used to increase the protective effect of aluminum's transparent natural oxide surface. It may also be given a decorative coloration.

In an extrusion die, the shaped opening through which the heat-softened metal is forced and which gives the extruded product its cross-sectional shape. Also called the orifice.

An architectural finish is a standard finish characterized by a uniform appearance. This finish is most often specified for exposed surfaces.

The area directly beneath the web of a mandrel where the metal begins to weld itself together (the upstream limit of the weld chamber).

Refers to two parts designed for mating assembly and requiring exact dimensions and contours to assure a proper fit.

A factor contributing to variation that is feasible to detect and identify.

In liquid paint spraying, the process of breaking the fluid paint into finely divided droplets which are then projected onto the part. In powder spraying, it is the separation of powder particles into the air.

Qualitative data that can be counted for recording and analysis. Attribute data are usually gathered in the form of nonconforming units or of nonconformities; they are analyzed by p, np, c, and u control charts. See also Variable Data.