Engineering and Technology


Materials Engineering


Materials engineers manipulate the atomic and molecular structure of substances to create products such as computer chips and television screens to golf clubs and snow skis.

They work with metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and combinations of materials called composites to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements. They also test and evaluate existing materials for new applications.

Specialisations

Materials engineers specialising in metals can be considered metallurgical engineers, while those specialising in ceramics can be considered ceramic engineers.

Most metallurgical engineers work in one of the three main branches of metallurgy—extractive or chemical, physical, and mechanical or process.

Extractive metallurgists are concerned with removing metals from ores and refining and alloying them to obtain useful metal.

Physical metallurgists study the nature, structure, and physical properties of metals and their alloys, and methods of processing them into final products.

Mechanical metallurgists develop and improve metalworking processes such as casting, forging, rolling, and drawing.

Special types of metal alloys are required for the highly developed sectors like aviation, medicine, energy, etc., for which process metallurgists may acquire special expertise.

Employment

Because materials are building blocks for other goods, materials engineers are widely employed in manufacturing industries. In fact, over half of materials engineers work in metal-production and processing; electronic and other electrical equipment; transportation equipment; industrial machinery and equipment; and stone, clay, and glass products manufacturing.

They also work in service industries such as engineering and management, business, and health services. Some materials engineers work for the central and state governments.

Steel plants of Durgapur, Bhillai, Rourkela, Bokaro, Tata Iron and Steel Company at Jamshedpur, etc. employ metallurgists.