Metallurgy

Making metals, and alloys into different forms has value in practical use is what makes the essence of metallurgy. Some metals are typically based in their native or free elemental form; examples of these are silver, gold and copper. There are also limited number of native metals that can be developed from seawater in particular is magnesium. However, most metals are taken out from naturally occurring compounds of mineral that can be searched at or close the surface of the earth.

To extract metals from their ores there are three types of processes, these are through mineral process, chemical extraction and refining. Mineral process is turned–down into concentrates; chemical extraction breaks out concentrates into metals and slag and other residues and refining creates by–products and fine–tuned metals. Its products are used in the craft of metalworking often utilized as alloys. There are lot studies on understanding the system of iron–carbon alloy that includes casting steel and irons.

The use of low–cost plain carbon steels or galvanized steel is very beneficial to high–strength applications since they do not corrode much. For application that requires strength and lightness, alloys of aluminum and magnesium are suited. For non–magnetic applications, copper–nickel alloys are preferable to use because they do not corrode easily. Machines such as heat exchangers and turbochargers mostly made up of nickel–based superalloys like inconel because they have high temperature resistance. Single crystal alloys use is for applications in super high temperatures because they minimize creeps.

Metallurgy is mostly concerned with producing metallic constituents so that consumers will use it or engineering sections for their specific needs. This requires the manufacturing of alloys, the shaping, the heat treatment and the surface treatment of the product. Metallurgist's role is to attain equilibrium between the properties of metals such as weight, strength, cost, corrosion and fatigue resistance, and operation in extreme temperatures. Thus, operating environment must carefully studied and considerations are thoroughly decided. Also taken into consideration that ferrous metals and some aluminum alloys corrode quickly in a saltwater environment.

At very low temperatures or cryogenic, exposure of metals poses bad effect on the properties such as easily influenced by shaped, bent, or drawn out which is prone to break–ups. Metals put under cyclic tests, such as wave or earthquake–like conditions imposed, suffer from fatigue. Also at elevated temperatures, metals constantly under stress condition might creep. That is why the branch of metallurgy in science is a very interesting field to make innovations to and there are still lots of opportunities for young ones to become metallurgists.