K

K Factor:  Tensile strength in pounds per square inch divided by the Brinell Hardness number.

Kahlbaum Iron:  An iron of more than 99.975% purity, Produced in Germany.

Kalling-Dommarfvet Process:  A desulfurizing process using powdered burnt lime.

Kaolin:  The purest form of china clay consisting of silicate of aluminum. The name is derived from a hill in China.

Kappa Carbide:  A carbide of iron (Fe.,:,C,,) in which all or part of the iron may be replaced by chromium, molybdenum and/or tungsten.

Kayser Hardness Test:  A method for determining the true hardness of metals at high temperatures.

Kelvin Temperature Scale:  One in which the unit of measurement equals that of the centigrade degree and according to which absolute zero is 0 degrees, equivalent to – 273.16 C.

Kerf:  The space or incision resulting from filing or cutting.

Keyhole Specimen:  A type of notched impact test specimen which has a hole-and-slot notch shaped like a keyhole.

Kieseiguhr:  Diatomaceous earth, a finely porous material used for thermal insulation to 1100 C (2012 F).

Kiln:  An oven or furnace for burning, calcining or drying a substance.

Kiln-Dried:  Lumber artificially dried in a specially designed enclosure or lumber kiln.

Kiln Marks: Irregularities on the surface of refractories caused by deformation under load during burning.

Kilovolt (Kv):  Unit of electrical potential equal to 1,000 volts.

Kilovolts Constant Potential (Kvep): The potential in kilovolts of a constant voltage generator.

Kilovolts Peak (Kvp):  The crest value of the potential wave in kilovolts. When only one half of the wave is used, the crest value is to be measured on
this half of the wave.

Kip:  A term sometimes used to represent a unit load of 1,000 lbs.

Kish:  Free graphite which separates upon slow cooling of molten hypereutectic iron.

Kissing (Touching):  Gating with minimum metal left at casting breakoff point, having a gate just “kiss” the surface.

Knockout Pins (Ejector Pins): Small diameter pins affixed to die casting or permanent mold dies that eject the casting upon opening the die. Also affixed to pattern back-up plate for removing cured mold in the shell-molding process