What does a Metallurgist do ?

A metallurgist is an engineer who specializes in studying the properties of metals. Metallurgists may also have training in geology, as metals extraction can be heavily involved with geology and an understanding of geology can be important to some people who work with metals. Metallurgists can be found working in a wide variety of settings all over the world, and employment prospects in this field are generally quite good.

An extraction metallurgist focuses on getting useful metals out of ores. He or she may also be interested in the process of purification and alloying, working with metals to develop well-known products and developing new metals which can be applied to a range of engineering problems. Chemical and physical metallurgists study the chemical and physical properties of metal, looking at things which stress metal, such as fatigue, corrosion, and temperature changes. A process metallurgist specializes in turning metal into something useful, and exploring the ways in which metal products can be manufactured and utilized.

To become a metallurgist, it is usually necessary to attend a training program which offers opportunities to people who are interested in careers in metallurgy, ranging from a technical school which teaches people forging techniques to a college or university engineering program. Some metallurgists may also acquire their skills on the job, working under supervision initially and eventually independently, although this method of learning metallurgy is less common.

Typical work activities

Specific work activities are dependent on the area of specialism and may involve the following:

In chemical metallurgy:

• designing and controlling processes to separate metals from ore;
• monitoring and testing for corrosion;
• developing ways to improve metals by making them stronger or more adaptable;
• testing metals to ensure they meet quality and safety standards.

In physical metallurgy:

• assessing the physical structure and behaviour of metals;
• investigating accidents where it is suspected that the cause may be related to metallurgical failure, such as in air crashes;
• producing reports on research and tests carried out.

In process metallurgy:

• controlling the shaping of metals through casting, rolling, forging and drawing;
• joining of metals through welding and soldering techniques;
• designing metal components and prototypes;

Other tasks which may be carried out across the specialist areas typically include:

• interpreting and understanding design drawings and making recommendations;
• making manufacturing time-critical decisions;
• monitoring quality standards in manufacturing and finishing;
• taking responsibility for health and safety issues of staff and components in manufacturing;
• doing structural analysis using sophisticated computer software;
• writing documents, manuals, metallurgical investigations, and reports in support of customer liaison;
• discussing different solutions to problems with other technical staff;
• interpreting customers' manufacturing design requirements and product application;
• installing and commissioning processing equipment;
• researching and developing test or repair technology and new products.