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Metallurgical Engineering

meh-tal-ur-JIH-kul
Also Known As Metallurgy
Chemical Engineering

Metallurgical engineering studies the extraction of metals from ore and the working of those metals into a finished form with the properties an application needs, spanning the pyrometallurgy and electrometallurgy of primary extraction, alloy design, and the casting, forging and heat-treatment processes that set a metal's final grain structure and strength. The production of ferrous metals accounts for about ninety-five percent of world metal production, with non-ferrous metallurgy covering every other metal and alloy system. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Origin Year
1864 1
Marks the founding of Columbia University's School of Mines in 1864, among the earliest dedicated US mining and metallurgy engineering programs, as the point the practice formalized into an academic engineering discipline; metalworking itself is millennia older.
Core Concern
Freeing metal from ore and controlling its internal structure, through smelting, alloying, casting, forging and heat treatment, to obtain the strength, hardness or ductility a specific use requires. 1
Core Principle
Free metal from ore and control its internal grain structure through smelting, alloying, casting, forging and heat treatment to obtain the strength, hardness or ductility a specific use requires. 1
Metallurgical Engineering
Filter Results3 entries

Adolf Martens

Metallurgical Engineering

Henry Bessemer

Metallurgical Engineering

Henry Clifton Sorby

Metallurgical Engineering
Connections

Associated With

Amorphous Metal, Materials
Source Amorphous Metal (Wikipedia)
Basic Oxygen Steelmaking, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Bessemer Process, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Blast Furnace, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Continuous Casting, Methods

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Forging, Methods
Hall-Heroult Process, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Kroll Process, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Materials Engineering, Fields
Mining Engineering, Fields
Open Hearth Process, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Puddling Process, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Quenching, Methods

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Rolling, Methods

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Smelting, Methods
Tempering, Methods

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Wootz Steel, Inventions

Field end of a technology member entity grouped under this field

Includes

Adolf Martens, Engineers
Source Adolf Martens (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Anodizing, Methods
Source Anodizing (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Argon Oxygen Decarburization, Inventions
Source Argon oxygen decarburization, Wikipedia
Basic Oxygen Steelmaking, Inventions
Source Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Bayer Process, Inventions
Source Bayer process, Wikipedia
Blast Furnace, Inventions
Source Blast Furnace (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Bloomery, Inventions
Source Bloomery, Wikipedia
Carburizing, Inventions
Source Carburizing - Wikipedia
Case Hardening, Methods
Source Case-hardening (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Cementation Process, Inventions
Source Cementation process, Wikipedia
Continuous Casting, Methods
Source Continuous Casting (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Cupellation, Inventions
Source Cupellation, Wikipedia
Damascus Steel, Inventions
Source Damascus steel, Wikipedia
Differential Hardening, Inventions
Source Differential heat treatment (Wikipedia)
Direct Reduction Process, Inventions
Source Direct reduced iron, Wikipedia
Electrolytic Refining, Inventions
Source Electrowinning - Wikipedia
Electroslag Remelting, Methods
Source Electro-slag remelting (Wikipedia)
Electrowinning, Inventions
Source Electrowinning - Wikipedia
Flame Hardening, Inventions
Source Case-hardening (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Froth Flotation, Inventions
Source Froth flotation - Wikipedia
Galvanizing, Methods
Source Galvanization (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Gold Cyanidation, Inventions
Source Gold cyanidation, Wikipedia
Hall-Heroult Process, Inventions
Source Hall-Heroult process (Wikipedia)
Henry Bessemer, Engineers
Source Henry Bessemer (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Henry Clifton Sorby, Engineers
Source Henry Clifton Sorby (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Huntsman Process, Inventions
Source Crucible steel - Wikipedia
Kroll Process, Inventions
Source Kroll process (Wikipedia)
Ladle Metallurgy, Inventions
Source Steelmaking - Wikipedia
Malleable Iron, Inventions
Source Malleable iron, Wikipedia
Miller Process, Inventions
Source Miller process, Wikipedia
Nitriding, Inventions
Source Wikipedia: Nitriding
Open Hearth Process, Inventions
Source Open-Hearth Furnace (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Parkes Process, Inventions
Source Parkes process, Wikipedia
Patio Process, Inventions
Source Patio process, Wikipedia
Pattern Welding, Inventions
Source Pattern welding, Wikipedia
Puddling Process, Inventions
Source Puddling (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Quenching, Methods
Source Quenching (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Roasting (Metallurgy), Inventions
Source Roasting (metallurgy) - Wikipedia
Sherardizing, Inventions
Source Sherardising, Wikipedia
Tatara, Inventions
Source Tatara (furnace) - Wikipedia
Tempering, Methods
Source Tempering (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Thermite Process, Inventions
Source Thermite, Wikipedia
Vacuum Arc Remelting, Inventions
Source Vacuum arc remelting, Wikipedia
Vacuum Induction Melting, Inventions
Source Vacuum induction melting, Wikipedia
Wootz Steel, Inventions
Source Wootz steel - Wikipedia

Open Questions

Should Henry Bessemer or William Kelly be credited with inventing the pneumatic steelmaking process that founded modern metallurgical engineering, given that Kelly began experimenting before Bessemer filed his patent, yet went largely unrecognized?, Open Questions
Source William Kelly (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Sources
1. Metallurgy (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their inter-metallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are known as alloys.
  • Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy paragraph, production-share sentence
    The production of ferrous metals accounts for 95% of world metal production.
  • In Group: Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
View the Source
Henry Bessemer (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Henry BessemerView the Source
Henry Clifton Sorby (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Henry Clifton SorbyView the Source
Adolf Martens (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Adolf MartensView the Source
Amorphous Metal (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: Amorphous Metal, Lead section
Quote, Associated With: Amorphous Metal, Lead section
Batches of amorphous steel with three times the strength of conventional steel alloys have been produced.
View the Source
Tempering (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Tempering, Categories
Quote, Includes: Tempering, Categories
Metal heat treatments
View the Source
Electro-slag remelting (Wikipedia)
Includes: Electroslag Remelting, Categories
Quote, Includes: Electroslag Remelting, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Quenching (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Quenching, Categories
Quote, Includes: Quenching, Categories
Metal heat treatments
View the Source
Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Basic Oxygen Steelmaking, Categories
Quote, Includes: Basic Oxygen Steelmaking, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Kroll process (Wikipedia)
Includes: Kroll Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Kroll Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Cementation process, Wikipedia
Includes: Cementation Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Cementation Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Bayer process, Wikipedia
Includes: Bayer Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Bayer Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Gold cyanidation, Wikipedia
Includes: Gold Cyanidation, Categories
Quote, Includes: Gold Cyanidation, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Parkes process, Wikipedia
Includes: Parkes Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Parkes Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Miller process, Wikipedia
Includes: Miller Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Miller Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Wootz steel - Wikipedia
Includes: Wootz Steel, Categories
Quote, Includes: Wootz Steel, Categories
Steels
View the Source
Tatara (furnace) - Wikipedia
Includes: Tatara, Categories
Quote, Includes: Tatara, Categories
Steelmaking
View the Source
Bloomery, Wikipedia
Includes: Bloomery, Categories
Quote, Includes: Bloomery, Categories
Metallurgical furnaces
View the Source
Damascus steel, Wikipedia
Includes: Damascus Steel, Categories
Quote, Includes: Damascus Steel, Categories
Steelmaking
View the Source
Open-Hearth Furnace (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Open Hearth Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Open Hearth Process, Categories
Metallurgical furnaces
View the Source
Puddling (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Puddling Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Puddling Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Crucible steel - Wikipedia
Includes: Huntsman Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Huntsman Process, Categories
Steelmaking
View the Source
Blast Furnace (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Blast Furnace, Categories
Quote, Includes: Blast Furnace, Categories
Metallurgy
View the Source
Electrowinning - Wikipedia
  • Includes: Electrolytic Refining, Categories
    Metallurgical processes
  • Includes: Electrowinning, Categories
    Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Froth flotation - Wikipedia
Includes: Froth Flotation, Categories
Quote, Includes: Froth Flotation, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Vacuum arc remelting, Wikipedia
Includes: Vacuum Arc Remelting, Categories
Quote, Includes: Vacuum Arc Remelting, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Argon oxygen decarburization, Wikipedia
Includes: Argon Oxygen Decarburization, Categories
Quote, Includes: Argon Oxygen Decarburization, Categories
Steelmaking
View the Source
Cupellation, Wikipedia
Includes: Cupellation, Categories
Quote, Includes: Cupellation, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Direct reduced iron, Wikipedia
Includes: Direct Reduction Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Direct Reduction Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Steelmaking - Wikipedia
Includes: Ladle Metallurgy, Categories
Quote, Includes: Ladle Metallurgy, Categories
Steelmaking
View the Source
Wikipedia: Nitriding
Includes: Nitriding, Categories
Quote, Includes: Nitriding, Categories
Metal heat treatments
View the Source
Vacuum induction melting, Wikipedia
Includes: Vacuum Induction Melting, Categories
Quote, Includes: Vacuum Induction Melting, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Pattern welding, Wikipedia
Includes: Pattern Welding, Categories
Quote, Includes: Pattern Welding, Categories
Steelmaking
View the Source
Differential heat treatment (Wikipedia)
Includes: Differential Hardening, Categories
Quote, Includes: Differential Hardening, Categories
Metal heat treatments
View the Source
Patio process, Wikipedia
Includes: Patio Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Patio Process, Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Roasting (metallurgy) - Wikipedia
Includes: Roasting (Metallurgy), Categories
Quote, Includes: Roasting (Metallurgy), Categories
Metallurgical processes
View the Source
Carburizing - Wikipedia
Includes: Carburizing, Categories
Quote, Includes: Carburizing, Categories
Metal heat treatments
View the Source
Continuous Casting (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Continuous Casting, Categories
Quote, Includes: Continuous Casting, Categories
Casting
View the Source
Thermite, Wikipedia
Includes: Thermite Process, Categories
Quote, Includes: Thermite Process, Categories
Welding
View the Source
Malleable iron, Wikipedia
Includes: Malleable Iron, Categories
Quote, Includes: Malleable Iron, Categories
Cast iron
View the Source
Case-hardening (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
  • Includes: Case Hardening, Lead section
    Case-hardening or carburization is the process of introducing carbon to the surface of a low-carbon iron, or more commonly a low-carbon steel object, to harden the surface.
  • Includes: Flame Hardening, Lead section
    Case-hardening or carburization is the process of introducing carbon to the surface of a low-carbon iron, or more commonly a low-carbon steel object, to harden the surface.
View the Source
Hall-Heroult process (Wikipedia)
Includes: Hall-Heroult Process, Lead section
Quote, Includes: Hall-Heroult Process, Lead section
The Hall-Héroult process is the major industrial process for smelting aluminium.
View the Source
Sherardising, Wikipedia
Includes: Sherardizing, Lead section
Quote, Includes: Sherardizing, Lead section
The process is named after British metallurgist Sherard Osborn Cowper-Coles (son of naval inventor Cowper Phipps Coles) who invented and patented the method c. 1900.
View the Source
Open Questions (1 open question)
Should Henry Bessemer or William Kelly be credited with inventing the pneumatic steelmaking process that founded modern metallurgical engineering, given that Kelly began experimenting before Bessemer filed his patent, yet went largely unrecognized?

Kelly experimented with injecting air into molten iron in the early 1850s, before Bessemer patented a similar process in 1855; after a financial panic in 1857, a company that had already licensed the Bessemer process purchased the Kelly patents outright and licensed both under the Bessemer name, and the documented record states that the role Kelly played in the invention has remained far less known.

What would resolve this A settled historical account weighing the timing of independent invention against the commercial and patent outcomes that decided which name attached to the process.
History of TechnologyWikipedia contributors, William Kelly (Wikipedia)
Frequently Asked Questions

Is metallurgical engineering a separate profession from materials engineering today?

The two are closely related and many university programs have merged them into a single materials science and engineering degree, but metallurgical engineering remains the name used for the specialization that focuses specifically on metals, freeing them from ore and controlling their internal grain structure through smelting, alloying, casting, forging and heat treatment. A metallurgical engineer typically works in mining, primary metal production or metal manufacturing, while a materials engineer more broadly might work with ceramics, polymers or composites instead.
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