Industry Glossary - E

A family of calcia-alumina-silicate glasses which has a certified chemical composition and which is used for general purposes and most electrical applications. (ASTM D578-90.)

The greatest stress a material is capable of sustaining without permanent strain remaining after the complete release of the stress. A material is said to have passed its elastic limit when the load is sufficient to initiate plastic, or non-recoverable, deformation.

That property of materials by virtue of which they tend to recover their original size and shape after removal of a force causing deformation.

A material that substantially recovers its original shape and size at room temperature after removal of a deforming force.

As mentioned under tensile modulus, when a bar is pulled it gets longer. The elongation tells how much longer it gets before it breaks.

Completely surrounding an object with resin or a fiber resin composite. Sometimes used specifically in reference to the enclosure of capacitors or circuit board modules.

A single bundle of filaments.

An exact number of ends supplied on a ball of roving.

The aggregate of all conditions (such as contamination, temperature, humidity, radiation, magnetic and electric fields, shock, and vibration) that externally influence the performance of an item.

A polymerizable thermoset polymer containing one or more epoxide groups and curable by reaction with amines, alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, acid anhydrides, and mercaptans. An important matrix resin in composites and structural adhesive. Epoxies generally have higher physical properties than polyester resins. They are also more costly and difficult to process, and less able to withstand sunlight.

The process whereby each end of roving is kept in the same degree of tension as the other ends making up the ball of roving.

Heat given off during a polymerization reaction by the chemical ingredients as they react and the resin cures.

To add fillers or low-cost materials in an economy producing endeavor. To add inert materials to improve void-filling characteristics and reduce crazing.

Low-cost materials used to dilute or extend high-cost resins without extensive lessening of properties.

Machine that pushes molten plastic through small holes to form fibers.