:: A ::
Assembly: to collect and put together multiple components either by hand or in an automated process.
:: B ::
Backing: A backing material is commonly misinterpreted as a liner material. Backing, in a more accurate sense, denotes the “face stock” or substrate in which adhesive is laminated or coated onto.
Butt Splice (Cut): The process of joining two streams of material, such as 2 streams of ribbons, two lengths of steel bar or sheets, etc. by bringing the two extreme ends together, trimming and joining, to recreate continuity, such as in movie film reels.
:: C ::
CAD: Computer Aided Design, or Drafting
Calibration: Determination of the experimental relationship between the quantity being measured and the output of the device that measures it; where the quantity measured is obtained through a recognized standard of measurement.
Carrier: A layer of material incorporated in a structure to impart structural integrity and strength to the weaker constituents, which effectively get carried by the incorporated material.
Class A: In conjunction with die cutting, refers to a type of die that is built as a male female complement pair, where there is actual intrusion of the former into the latter, thus shear cutting the material; the initial set between the male and female pair provides a separation wall between the two.
Class 1000: With reference to "Clean Rooms" refers to the concentration level of suspended solid particles in the clean room environment, such as less than 1000 particles, smaller that 3 Micron diameter, in 1 cubic meter of the clean room space.
Class 10000: Same as Class 1000, except it would allow more particles per cubic meter of the space, in fact it permits up to 10000 particles per cubic meter.
Class 100000: Same as Class 10000, except it would allow more particles per cubic meter of the space, in fact it permits up to 100000 particles per cubic meter.
Clean-room: An enclosed space, usually under positive pressure, so that there is only flow of air out of the enclosed space, preventing unwanted influx of particulate matter. Air inflow will be filtered carefully to prevent ingress of particulater matter, larger than a prescribed size, say 3 micron.
Closed-Cell: As referred to various foams, indicates that the void space that fills most of the foam volume, comprises pockets of gas, usually air, which are distinct and separated from adjacent pockets by a membrane of the polymer material. The air pockets are individually air-locked, and have no channels of communications between each other, nor with the outside.
Conjugate Pad: a material used to deliver the detector reagent onto the membrane in a consistent volume of sample on every test strip.
Contract Manufacturing: A company that engages in product analysis, design and development, order fulfillment and product distribution, for another company, on a contract basis.
Convert: To transform raw material into a customer specified component (see Laminate and Slit)
Core: The central and innermost component on which materials are wound.
Corrective Action: An action taken to eliminate the causes of an existing nonconformity, defect or other undesirable situations, to prevent recurrence.
:: D ::
Delamination: The separation of plies in a laminate due to adhesive failure. This may be local or may cover a large area. This term also includes the separation of layers of fabric from the core structure.
Deviation: Written authorization granting changes from a set protocol
Die: A tool in converting machinery used for cutting a design from materials
Die Cut: The process of cutting flat material from specifications.
Dimensional Results/Analysis: Data records and interpretation taken from a series of measurements of any given lot.
Double Coated: A carrier with a layer of adhesive on both sides protected by one or two release liners.
:: E ::
Elasticity: The property of a material to recover immediately their original size and shape when load is removed after deformation.
Elastomer: Having the elastic properties of a rubber
Elongation: The fractional increase in length of a material loaded in tension. When expressed as a percentage of the original length, it is called percent elongation.
EMI: Electro-Magnetic Interference
:: F ::
Fabrication: Process of making a composite part or tool.
FDA: An acronym for the Food Drug & Administration, a government organization that controls the standards of foods and drugs.
First Article: The inspection after a sample run to evaluate the results of the tools. First Article inspection is not used to test the form, fit and functionality.
:: G ::
:: H ::
Heat Seal: The joining of two materials via heat and pressure.
Hydrocolloid: A type of dressing that absorbs liquid to form a gel. This is usually combined with elastomers and adhesives and applied to a carrier to form an absorbent, self adhesive or waterproof wafer.
Hydrogel: A water based, skin-friendly gel
Hydrophilic: Readily absorbing or dissolving in water
Hydrophobic: Incapable of dissolving in water
:: I ::
Impregnate: To saturate the voids and interstices of a reinforcement with a resin.
Inclusion: Physical and mechanical discontinuity occurring within a material or part.
Insulating: To prevent the passage of heat, electricity or sound by surrounding with a non-conductive material.
Inventor®: A three dimensional engineering design software
ISO: International Organization for Standardization — A worldwide federation of national standards bodies promoting standardization with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services.
:: K ::
Kiss Cut: a die cutting operation which cuts through the face sheet and adhesive to (not through) the adhesive’s liner.
:: L ::
Laminate: The process of layering two or more materials together primarily via a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Lead Time: The promised length of time for material procurement and/or fabrication. This time does not reflect transit schedules.
Liner: Usually phrased in terms of a “release liner”, indicating that this substrate is siliconized (at least on one side) and its main purpose is to release the face stock and/or adhesive material for later attachment to a different substrate. PDCI Medical sources liners with FDA-approved coatings.
Lot: Material made by the same process at the same time having identical characteristics throughout. Same as "batch".
:: M ::
Male/Female Die: see Class A
Matrix: the same face material that provides structure and support for the part itself.
Membrane: a thin, typically planar material that separates two environments as an interphase/interface. Membranes selectively control the transport between the two phases or environments.
Mil: One thousandth of an inch
MSI: A thousand square inches
Multi-station rotary machine: Machinery used for multi-stage and multi-component fabrication. This equipment is kept in a Class 1000 environment.
Mylar®: A polyethylene terephthalate polyester film used for its high tensile strength, transparency and electrical insulation. In the UK, it is known as Melinex.
:: N ::
Nitrocellulose: A sticky membrane that is used to immobilize DNA
Non-conformity: A failure to comply to certain standards, rules or protocol.
:: O ::
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer — companies that design and build products bearing their name.
Outgas: Release of solvents and moisture from composite parts under the hard vacuum of space.
:: P ::
Polycarbonate: a group of polymers that are moldable under heat. These plastics are widely used in manufacturing.
Polyester: a polymer whose monomer contains the ester functional group. Polyester fibers are often used to make fabric.
Polyethylene: a waxy, chemically inert, and typically inexpensive plastic. Polyethylene has various classifications relating to density.
Polystyrene: a polymer made from styrene and a liquid that is made from petroleum. This material can come in the form of rigid plastic, flexible plastic and foam (Dow Chemical, Styrofoam®)
Porosity: Presence of visible voids within a solid material into which either air or liquids may pass.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA): an adhesive that is activated by pressure.
Protocol: a set of rigid guidelines that dictates how jobs are performed. See deviation.
Prototype: Process of creating a test part not intended for commercial release that establishes design, material and fabrication parameters for a new product. May entail multiple iterations to arrive at final/commercial part design.
:: Q ::
QC: Control of product or service output quality by establishing quality level goals. Quality control often involves inspection, analysis, and action to make identified changes in order to maintain or achieve the required quality level. Compare with quality improvement, which involves taking actions to exceed the current required quality level, and quality assurance, which is the system of actions taken, such as inspection, to confidently assure that the product is of sufficient quality.
:: R ::
Register: The fitting of multiple stacked layers in exact alignment.
Research & Development (R&D): A process that integrates the processes of product research and development, shortening the cycle of commercial product development.
RFI: Radio Frequency Interference
:: S ::
Score: To slit the material without puncturing the other side. This method is typically used to assist the end user in folding the material neatly,
Shear: Action or stress resulting from applied forces that causes or tends to cause two contiguous parts of a body to slide relative to each other.
Shelf Life: Length of time in which a material can be stored and continue to meet specification requirements, remaining suitable for its intended use.
Silicone: an inorganic polymer consisting of a silicone-oxygen backbone. This is odorless, colorless, water resistant, chemical resistant, oxidation resistant, stable at high temperatures, and does not conduct electricity. Because it is one of the more stable polymers, it can also be quite costly.
Skin: Layer of relatively dense material used on the surface of the core of a sandwich structure.
Slit: to cut rolls of stock to specified widths. Either rotary or stationary knives or blades are used with mechanical unwinding and rewinding devices.
Statistical Process Control: a quality control system that continuously monitors production to make sure it remains within specifications.
Structural adhesive: Adhesive used to transfer loads between adherents.
Substrate: Material upon the surface of which an adhesive-containing substance is spread for any purpose, such as bonding or coating.
:: T ::
Tack: Stickiness of an adhesive or material
Tensile strength: Maximum tensile stress sustained by a specimen before it fails in a tension test.
Test: The process of measuring, analyzing, or evaluating the characteristics, capacities, attributes, or aptitudes of a substance, group, or individual.
Thermal Conductivity: Ability to conduct heat.
Tolerance: the specified allowance for deviations from the standard dimensions.
Traceability: Traceability can be used to certify a document’s accuracy relative to a known standard.
Transfer Adhesive: An adhesive without a carrier coated on a liner. It is applied to a surface. The end user removes the liner and the adhesive stays with the surface to which the transfer adhesive is attached.
:: U ::
:: V ::
Validation: Tests to determine whether an implemented system fulfills its requirements.
Volara®: Trade name for Cross-linked Polyethylene (XLPE)
:: W ::
Wall: A wall is a usually solid structure that separates voids within a part.
Web: The material from a roll that moves through the machine in the process of being converted.
