NANOMETER
Abbreviated (nm) and equal to one millimicron or one billionth meter (10-9), used to measure wavelengths of light.

NDE
Nondestructive Evaluation. Broadly considered synonymous with NDI.

NDI
Nondestructive inspection. A process or procedure for determining material or part characteristics without permanently altering the test subject. NDT and NDE are broadly considered synonymous with NDI.

NDT
Nondestructive Testing. A process or procedure for determining the quality or characteristics of a material, part, or assembly without permanently altering the subject or its properties.

NEAR-NET SHAPE
A characteristic of a part whose fabricated dimensions are so close to final dimensions that machining or cutting to final shape is not required.

NET SHAPE
Part fabrication resulting in final dimensions that do not require machining or cutting.

NEO
Abbreviation for the neopentyl glycol type of gel coats.

NESTING
In reinforced plastics, the placing of plies of fabric so that the yarns of one ply lie in the valleys between the yarns of the adjacent ply (nested cloth).

NOL RING
A parallel filament wound test specimen used for measuring various mechanical strength properties of the material by testing the entire ring, or segments of it.

NOMEX
Trademark of DuPont for nylon paper-treated material that is commonly made into honeycomb core.

NOMINAL SPECIMEN THICKNESS
The nominal ply thickness multiplied by the number of plies.

NOMINAL VALUE
A value assigned for the purpose of a convenient designation. A nominal value exists in name only.

NON-AIR-INHIBITED RESIN
A resin in which the surface cure will not be inhibited or stopped by the presence of air. A surfacing agent has been added to exclude air from the surface of the resin.

NON-VOLATILE MATERIAL
Portion remaining as solid under specific conditions short of decomposition.

NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION (NDI)
A process or procedure for determining material or part characteristics without permanently altering the test subject. Non-destructive testing (NDT) and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) are broadly considered synonyms with NDI.

NON-WOVEN FABRIC
A textile structure produced by bonding or interlocking of fibers, or both, accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means and combinations thereof.

NONWOVEN ROVING
A reinforcement composed of continuous rovings loosely gathered together.

NORMALIZATION
A mathematical procedure for adjusting raw test values for fiber-dominated properties to a single (specified) fiber volume content.

NOTCH SENSITIVITY
The extent to which the sensitivity of a material to fracture is increased by the presence of a surface inhomogeneity such as a notch, a sudden change in section, a crack or a scratch. Low notch sensitivity is usually associated with ductile materials and high notch sensitivity with brittle materials.

NPG GEL COAT
Neopentyl glycol gel coat has enhanced weatherability compared to non-NPG gel coat.

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Glossary Section (N) Last Updated: 9/3/99 1:09 PM

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