Technical Information
Military Shipboard Catalog
Glossary
Loss Factor: The product of the
dissipation and dielectric constant
of an insulating material.
Milli: A prefix denoting one-thousandth
Nylon: An abrasion-resistant
(10-3).
thermoplastic with good chemical
resistance. A DuPont registered
trademark.
Modulus of Elasticity: The ratio of stress to
Longitudinal Shield: A tape shield,
strain in an elastic material.
flat or corrugated, applied
OHM: The electrical unit of resistance.
longitudinally with the axis of the Moisture Absorption: The amount of
core being shielded.
moisture, in percentage, that a material
will absorb under specified conditions.
OSHA: Abbreviation for the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Microampere: One-millionth of an
ampere (10-6).
Moisture Resistance: The ability of a
material to resist absorbing moisture
from the air or when immersed in water.
Overlap: The amount the trailing edge
laps over the leading edge of a spiral
tape wrap.
Milliampere: One-thousandth of an
ampere (10-3).
Multi-Conductor Cable: A cable
consisting of two or more conductors,
either cabled or laid in a flat parallel
construction, with or without a common
overall covering.
Oxygen Index: Percentage of oxygen
necessary to support combustion in a
gas mixture. Flame retardant
materials have a higher oxygen
index.
Magnetic Noise: Caused by current
frequency. An AC powerline
creates a magnetic field around
that cable, this magnetic field
causes the magnetic noise in
neighboring control or
Mutual Capacitance: Capacitance between
two conductors when all other
conductors including ground are
connected together.
Pair: Two insulated wires of a single
circuit twisted together or laid
parallel.
instrumentation circuits.
MCM: One thousand circular mils
(kcmil).
Parallel Cable: Two or more cables
used to share the current in heavily
loaded power circuits which permits
the use of smaller conductors.
Mylar: DuPont trade name for a polyester
Meg or Mega: A prefix denoting
material.
1,000,000.
Nano: A numerical prefix denoting one-
Megarad: A unit for measuring
billionth (10-9).
Percentage Conductivity: Conductivity
of a material expressed as a
radiation dosage.
National Electrical Code (NEC): A U.S.
consensus standard published by the
National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) and incorporated in OSHA
regulations. (Canadian Counterpart is the
CE Code).
percentage of that of copper. Also
used to indicate ratio of conductance
between the phase conductor and the
neutral in power cables.
Messenger: The linear supporting
member, usually a high strength
steel wire, used as the supporting
element of a suspended aerial
cable. The messenger may be an
integral part of the cable, or
exterior to it.
Pick: Distance between two adjacent
crossover points of braid filaments.
The measurement in picks per inch
indicates the degree of coverage.
NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers
Association. (Canadian counterpart is
EEMAC).
Mho: The unit of conductivity. The
reciprocal of an ohm.
PICO: A prefix denoting one-millionth
Neoprene: A synthetic rubber with good
resistance to oil, chemicals and flame.
Also called polychloroprene.
of one-millionth (10-12).
Micro: A prefix denoting one-
millionth.
Pitch: In flat cable, the nominal distance
between the index edges of two
adjacent conductors.
Micron: (m) Millionth of a meter.
Nomex: Dupont trademark for a temperature
resistant, flame-retardant nylon.
Mil: A unit of length equal to one-
thousandth of an inch (.001).
Common unit for insulation
thickness.
Pitch Diameter: Diameter of a circle
passing through the center of the
conductors in any layer of a multi-
conductor cable.
Non Hygroscopic: A material incapable of
taking up or absorbing moisture from the
air.
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