Critical process variables must be controlled to ensure uniform and repeatable heat-treating results. This chapter covers the subject of controlling the heat-treating process. All heat-treating equipment utilizes various sensors, timers, and other components to monitor and control the process utilizing various control methods. The chapter focuses on temperature control and measurement, including a discussion about thermocouples and devices for measuring thermal and electrical conductivity.

This article discusses the composition, properties, and behaviors of copper and its alloys. It begins with an overview of the characteristics, applications, and commercial grades of wrought and cast copper. It then discusses the role of alloying, explaining how zinc, tin, aluminum, silicon, and nickel affect the physical and mechanical properties of coppers and high-copper alloys as well as brasses, bronzes, copper-nickels, and nickel silvers. It also explains how alloying affects electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, stress-corrosion cracking, and processing characteristics.

This article explains how alloying elements affect the properties and behaviors of electrical contacts. It describes the composition, strength, hardness, and conductivity of a wide range of contact alloys and composites based on silver, copper, gold, platinum, palladium, tungsten, and molybdenum, and related oxides and carbides.