Metallurgical
Engineering is the branch of engineering that develops and supplies the materials
for virtually every other engineering field. Three-fourths of all chemical elements
are metals, so metals play a vital role in nearly every aspect of modern life.
Metallurgical Engineers transform the earth's mineral resources into finished
products by extracting metals from ores, producing ceramics from metal compounds,
and fabricating composite structures.
Today's materials are exotic and so are the methods of
producing them. Metallurgy is based upon the principles of chemistry, physics,
and mathematics. These sciences provide an understanding of the methods of
metal production processes and the behavior of materials. In addition to familiar
materials such as steel, 
aluminum, copper, glass, gold, and silver, Metallurgical Engineers produce
many exotic materials such as metals with shape memories, ultrahigh-purity
materials for integrated circuits, materials for surgical implants, ceramics
for space vehicles, and superconductors.
There are three areas of specialization in Metallurgical
Engineering: mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, and materials engineering.
Mineral processors concentrate ores and recycle materials so that extractive
metallurgists can produce pure, high-quality metals and nonmetallics for use
by materials engineers who transform these materials into the marvels of our
advanced civilization, ranging from space craft to thin diamond films.
Advances made by Metallurgical and Material Engineers usually make possible
advances in other engineering fields. This happens because virtually every
engineering field is in constant search of higher-performance materials.
Metallurgical engineers are not only responsible for the
production of materials but also for the evaluation, of metals, ceramics,
and polymer-based composites. The evaluation of materials includes tests to
determine strength, hardness, toughness, corrosion behavior, and many others.
It is the role of the Metallurgical Engineer to develop processing methods
to create materials with specific and exacting properties for every conceivable
application.
The primary source for materials continues to be the earth
in forms such as ores, minerals from sea water, and petroleum. However, recycled
materials are an increasingly important material source for Metallurgical
Engineers.
Metallurgical Engineering is similar to Chemical Engineering when it comes
to the chemical processes for the production of large quantities of pure materials.
However, Metallurgical Engineers generally are not involved in the production
of organic materials whereas Chemical Engineers are less likely to be involved
in primary metal production processes.
Metallurgical Engineers are employed throughout the nation
and the world.
