ALLOY: Describes a metal which is a mixture of at least two elements, where one is aluminium.
ALLOY CAST-IRON: Describes a blend of metals that contains elements such as carbon, manganese, silicon, nickel, chromium, copper, and molybdenum to increase the strength of ordinary irons.
ALLOY STEEL: Describes a blend of metals in which the content of manganese or silicon is increased so that they are more than the carbon steel content.
ALUMINIUM (AL OR ALUM): Describes a material silver-white in colour that has become a prominent component in car body production because of its lightness. Although in pure form, aluminium does not have possess the same strength levels as iron, car manufacturers prefer its use as an alloy in the production of body panels, engine blocks, differential housings, transmission housings and wheels,
ALUMINIUM ALLOY: Describes a metal formed from aluminium and other metals.
BASE METAL: Describes metal to be brazed, cut, or welded.
BENDING STRENGTH: Defines the ability of a metal to resist bending.
BIMETAL: Describes the situation where two types of metal have been bonded into a strip to form a coil. Each type of metal has different thermal expansion characteristics, so the coil straightens when heated and coils up when cold.
CASE-HARDENED: Describes a piece of steel that has had its outer surface hardened while the inner portion remains relatively soft.
CASTING: Describes the process technology that delivers a liquid molten metal into a purpose-built mould. After cooling, the solid metal surface has the shape of
CASTING NUMBER: Describes the number cast into a block, head, or another component when the part is cast. Casting numbers can be helpful when identifying an engine or its features, although not consistently completely accurate,
CAST IRON: Describes an alloy of iron that contains more than 2% carbon, used to produce engine blocks and transmission and differential cases because it is relatively cheap and easy to mould into complex shapes
COMPOSITE: Describes any material consisting of two or more substances where one or more of them are high strength fibres. Another is an adhesive binder, with the most common composite being fibreglass.
CONVERSION COATING: Describes a coating of some metal that uses the same kind of metal as in the coating compound, improving paint adhesion and corrosion resistance.
DRAW-FILING: Describes the process of filing metal by passing the file, at right angles, up and down the length of the object
DROP FORGED: Describes a part formed by heating a piece of blank steel till it becomes red hot and pounding it into shape with a powerful drop hammer.
DUCTILE: Describes a type of metal that can be bent, hammered, or drawn out into wire or sheet without risk of fracturing.
FERROUS METAL: Describes any form of metal that contains iron or steel. Nonferrous metals include aluminium alloys, brass, copper, or magnesium.
FIBRE FORM: Describes a patented process used in building composite automobile bodies.
FIBREGLASS: Describes a mixture of glass fibres and resin that, when cured (hardened), produces a very light and strong material used to build car bodies and repair damaged areas.
FIBREGLASS BODY: Describes a body shell moulded in one piece from fibreglass that brings the dual advantage of being lightweight and free from corrosion
FIBREGLASS MAT: Describes a layer of chopped. irregular fibreglass strands dressed with a chemical to hold them loosely together, which hardens into a strong material for repairing holes when a resin is applied
FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTIC (FRP): Describes woven fibres impregnated with plastic resins to form a lightweight but robust solid, commonly used fibres are Kevlar, carbon fibre and glass. FRP fibres are used alternatively to provide various levels of strength and weight.
FORGED ALUMINIUM: Describes an engine piston formed under tremendous pressure creating a much stronger, denser material but more expensive to produce.
GLASS FIBRE: Describes a very thin glass thread, used loosely or in woven form as a reinforcing material in laminated plastics.
HIGH CARBON STEEL: Describes tough steel, containing more than 0.8% carbons used for metalworking formers and fine edge cutting tools.
HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE(HDPE): Describes a chemically resistant thermoplastic used for blow-moulded parts such as fuel tanks.
LOW-CARBON STEEL: Describes steel containing carbon at levels of between 0.03 to 0.3 per cent carbon (typically 0.2%) used in the manufacture of materials without critical strength requirements.
LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE): Describes a relatively soft, flexible polyethene used mainly for plastic film and sheet.
MALLEABLE CASTINGS: Describes forms of metal that have been cast and then heat-treated to reduce their brittleness.
MANGANESE BRONZE: Describes an alloy of copper, manganese and zinc.
MILD STEEL: Describes a category of steel with a low carbon content (ranging between 0.1 to 0.25%) widely used in vehicle construction.
BW4