An alloy is a partial or complete solid solution of one or more elements in a metallic matrix. In our context it is used for copper alloys. Alloy additions give pure copper greater strength and make the litz wires made of it more stable from a mechanical standpoint. This results in a greater number of flexing cycles and enhances the copper’s tensile strength but this does, however, frequently mean a loss in conductivity compared with pure copper.

The degree of imbrication defines the visual density or coverage of shielding material. Ideally the imbrication level of braided shielding should be between 85 and 90%. It is technically impossible to achieve 100 percent because the braid must have gaps to make it flexible. You would have to use metal-laminated film, for example, to achieve a 100% imbrication level.

This (also referred to as flexural or flexing cycle loading) refers to a cable’s elongation on the outside and compression on the inside. By applying special engineering specifications and utilizing state-of-the-art materials, Hradil is able to manufacture HYFLEX^® cables that will withstand more than 25 million flexing cycles.

Das Biegewechselverhalten beschreibt die Haltbarkeit eines Kabels bei permanenter Biegung in wechselnde Richtungen. Eine S-förmige Umlenkung eines Kabels beschreibt auch eine Art der Wechselbiegung.

Modern automated production machines, robots and transportation systems require cables that are capable of withstanding enormously high mechanical stress. Automated machinery with ancillary handling systems can involve both stretching and rotating motions. In such cases the cables are subjected to enormous reverse bending stresses at tight radii. This is why it is so important to select the right materials for the job, such as alloy litz wires, in order to guarantee the cable’s long-term durability.

Also known as bunched litz wires. The individual strands of wire which make a litz wire are bunched together in a single operation. See also: concentric litz wires.

CE marking (Conformité Européenne: “Conformity with EU directives”) identifies certain products and their safety characteristics in accordance with EU legislation. By using the EC marking the manufacturer confirms that the product meets applicable European directives.

CERAMOFLEX^® is the registered trade mark for Hradil’s special silicon cable that, thanks to its high share of ceramic additives, is able to meet the requirements of performance testing, earning a rating of FE 180 (180 minutes at 750 degrees Celsius with no short-circuiting). In spite of their enormous staying power, these cable assemblies remain flexible.

EEx approval may only be granted by an independent authority and defines whether certain products may be used in potentially explosive environments, one example being gas pipelines.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the property of the cable which prevents it from causing electromagnetic interference and/or being affected by electromagnetic fields.

Background: Whenever supply lines, sensor and control cables are in close proximity to one another – in tight cable drag chains or thick cable bundles – electromagnetic fields are generated that are typical for automation and machine construction. Occasionally assemblies and hybrid cables can be quite a headache for engineers. Electromagnetic fields can cause noise that leads to severe signal degradation or even unwanted signals.

Multiple winding refers to the number of separate adjacent wires in a shielding braid.

Mobile cranes at ports handle all kinds of goods – containers, bulk cargo, general cargo and project goods. Unlike rail-mounted cranes, mobile cranes have very complex chassis constructions and can be used in a significantly wider range of applications, thanks to their mobility.

Shore durometer test procedures involve measuring a penetration depth to assess a material’s hardness. Named after Albert Shore, this is a value scale that is widely used for testing plastics. In a Shore durometer test, a spring-loaded test pin strikes a specimen and its penetration depth measured.

Shore hardness values are not expressed in a particular dimension but are recorded on a scale of 1 to 100. The softer a material is, the deeper the test pin will penetrate it. Shore A and D methods differ from one another by the shape of the test pin’s spike and the amount of force exerted by the spring on the spike.

HYFLEX^® is the registered trademark for special cables produced by Hradil Spezialkabel GmbH

Cables and cable assemblies for use in closed circuit television cameras to inspect sewers and pipes of all kinds. Sewer inspection CCTV cables usually contain a coaxial lead to transmit video signals and various conductors to power, control and illuminate these camera systems, most of which are self-propelled.

Aramide fibers, golden-yellow synthetic fibers. Kevlar fibers were developed by DuPont in 1965 and are distributed under the registered trademark KevlarTM.

Also called unilay wire combinations. Concentric litz wires are constructed in line with defined design standards that determine the number of wires per layer, the length of lay and the direction of lay. Consequently they are considerably more expensive than comparatively cheap bunched or bundled wires.

Peroxides (dibenzol peroxide, for example) are used industrially as a starter for radical polymerization. Weak peroxidic bonding is easy to separate homolytically, thus forming reactive benzoyl radicals. Under full-scale industrial conditions, these are used to polymerize plastics so as to create materials such as polyethylene.

Wafer-thin sheeting made of polytetrafluoroethylene that is produced with a peeling process. It is frequently used in cable manufacturing as a friction-free film between various components inside a cable. PTFE has extreme thermal resistance and does not melt.

A popular abbreviation for polyurethane, a plastic material with excellent mechanical loading properties. Mainly used in cable manufacturing as a jacket material due to its abrasion and notch resistance. PUR is available in various hardness levels, depending on the degree of flexibility required.

Lay length describes the pitch of the wires stranded helically around a cable’s core. It refers to the distance, measured along the length, required for a stranded component (a conductor, for example) to pass once completely around the core (360 degrees).

Cables can be stranded to the left or right. A cable is referred to as being stranded to the right if the individual conductors (in the direction away from the observer) are wrapped around the core in a clockwise direction. Right-handed wrapping is said to have a Z twist and a left-handed wrapping an S twist.

Hydrosilicon crosslinking is a two-stage wet chemical process. It used mainly to crosslink polyethylene. Its advantages over radiation crosslinking may be seen in a more homogenous distribution of the crosslinked areas resulting from the silicon molecules dispersing in the molten mass. Other advantages are in the lower investment and energy costs (e.g. no need for radiation shielding measures). The most convincing aspects of hydrosilicon crosslinking are greater resistance to ageing and improved mechanical properties.

Physical crosslinking using electron beams (gamma rays). Crosslinking with electron beams, especially gamma rays, demands an elaborate system to generate high-energy radiation.

Torsion loads put a strain on cables by twisting them around their own axis. In comparison with flexural loading, completely different engineering concepts are needed to deal with torsion loading.

A generalized term for ethylene-based thermoplastic elastomers.

A cable is subjected to enormous strain when being reeled onto a drum.

Plastics and polymers in particular are crosslinked to improve their physical, chemical or mechanical properties. These might include pressure resistance, resistance to oil and grease, temperature resistance or the ability to be steam-sterilized.

A thin fabric made of synthetic fibers resembling felt. It is usually used as a ribbon to act as a friction-reduction or separation layer between various components in a cable assembly.

Substances added to rigid thermoplastics to improve their distensibility, softness and pliancy during processing and afterwards in use. Plasticizers, however, do not react chemically with a material but only alter its physical properties.