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Metallurgical Engineering is indispensable activities in supplying materials to any industrialized nation. Curriculum is designed to provide fundamental knowledge of basic engineering and extensive coverage of the respective fields, which itself is very broad. The later portions of the program lead to applications of fundamental principles to specific designs. The metallurgical profession is extremely diverse, and it offers a wide variety of career opportunities for young people who have an interest in technology, science and engineering. Metallurgical Engineers are employed in every industry and enterprises that produce, buy, sells refines or manufactures metals or metallic products. You have probably heard many times that modern societies cannot function without a plentiful supply of every conceivable type of metal and alloy and that people who are skilled in the use or production of metals and metallic materials of all kinds are highly valued.
Extractive metallurgy is the practice of separating metals from their ore, and refining them into a pure metal. In order to convert a metal oxide or sulfide to a metal, the Meta oxide must be reduced either chemically or electrolytic ally.
In production engineering, metallurgy is concerned with the production of metallic components for use in consumer or engineering products. This involves the production of alloys, the shaping, the heat treatment and the surface treatment of the product. The task of the metallurgist is to achieve design criteria specified by the mechanical engineer, such as cost, weight, strength, toughness, hardness, corrosion resistance and performance in extremes of temperature.
Common engineering metals are aluminum, chromium copper, iron, magnesium, nickel, titanium and zinc. These are most often used as alloys. Much effort has been placed on understanding one very important alloy system that of purified iron, which has carbon dissolved in it, better known as steel. Normal steel is used in low cost, high strength applications where weight and corrosion are not a problem. Cast irons, including ductile iron are also part of this system.
Stainless is used where resistance to corrosion is important. Aluminum alloys and magnesium alloys are used for applications where strength and lightness are required.
Most engineering metals are stronger than most plastics and are tougher than most ceramics. Composites of plastics and materials such glass fibre and caron fibre rival metals in applications requiring high compressive strength and resistance to the effects of water. Wood rivals metal in applications requiring low cost and availability of materials and low cost of construction, as well as in applications requiring certain aesthetics.
This is indeed true and metallurgical engineers command good salaries and young metallurgical graduates can expect to be able to choose from some exciting career alternatives. Opportunities for employment exists in Research Institutions / Public Sectors Heavy Steel Plants / Laborites where search is going on for new materials to be sued in space technology, Automobile Industry, Food processing, Nuclear Industries etc. |
