Category: Glossary

Variance in overall lead plating thickness and cross-sectional characteristics, which can cause lead form variation during the lead forming process.

A solvent with the ability to dissolve polar compounds such as inorganic salts. However, polar solvents cannot dissolve nonpolar compounds such as resins and hydrocarbons.

The direction of the electric field in the lightwave.

Fiber that maintains the polarization of light that enters it.

(PMD) Polarization mode dispersion is an inherent property of all optical media. It is caused by the difference in the propagation velocities of light in the orthogonal principal polarization states of the transmission medium. The net effect is that if an optical pulse contains both polarization components, then the different polarization components will travel at different speeds and arrive at different times, smearing the received optical signal.

Thermosetting ring chain polymers characterized by -NH group. They are being increasingly used as dielectrics in high performance circuits.

To chemically unite two or more polymers or monomers of the same kind to form a molecule with higher molecular weight.

The length of working time of a two component reactive system from the time of the addition of the curing agent in a specific mass (i.e. 100 grams). It is expressed in minutes.

An alkaline chemical added to water to improve its ability to dissolve organic acid flux residues.

Nanometer. One billionth of a meter.

Refer to “nonpolar.”

A condition in which a substance does not ionize in water.

A solvent that is not electrically conductive and will dissolve nonpolar compounds such as hydrocarbons and resins.

A condition in which molten solder has contacted a surface, but the solder has not adhered to all of the surface, and a portion of the base metal may be exposed. Nonwetting occurs when there is a barrier (intermetallic or oxide) between the two joining surfaces.

Nanowatt. One billionth of a Watt.

Any material is opaque if no light can be transmitted through it.

The temperature at which an epoxy system can operate continuously without degradation of its properties.

A thin filament of drawn or extruded glass or plastic having a central core and a cladding of lower index material to promote internal reflection. It may be used singly to transmit pulsed optical signals (communications fiber) or in bundles to transmit light or images.

Another name for optical fiber.

That branch of physical science concerned with vision and certain phenomena of electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range extending from the vacuum ultraviolet at about 40 nm to the far-infrared at 1 mm. Now being replaced by the more inclusive term photonics.