Metallurgy is a field of material science that studies the physical and chemical composition of metallic elements, their behavior, their compound forms and mixtures. It mainly involves the application of material science in practical use.

What is metallurgical engineering?

Metallurgical engineering is a field of engineering that mainly deals with metallic elements, their properties, composition and application for practical use. The course will help students in gaining insight on different methods used in the extraction and manufacture of metals and metallic compounds in larger scale to meet the demands of various industries such as iron and steel industry, automobile industry, aircraft industry etc.

Application of metallurgical engineering

Metallic engineering as a specialized field does not have a direct role to play in developing the infrastructure of a nation. The field deals with extraction and industrial production   of metals and metallic compounds which find use in development of infrastructure. Metal, compounds, and alloys find application in developing infrastructure such as power, construction of buildings, transportation. Almost all machines and equipments that are used to support life on earth and make it easy use metals, compounds or alloys. The buildings we construct use iron or steel structure as framework. Metal and metal compounds are required in generation, transmission and distribution of electric power. All the machines and equipments we use on a daily basis are made up of metals. So as long as there is life on earth, metallurgical engineering will have the role of enhancing human lives.

What students gain out of metallurgical engineering?

Like any other engineering course, the students will have to study basic engineering subjects such as basic civil engineering, basic electrical engineering, basic electronics engineering, and basic mechanical engineering long with subjects such as physics, chemistry and mathematics. During the rest of the course, students will have to study physical metallurgy, extractive metallurgy and mineral processing. Physical metallurgy takes into account the physical composition of various metal compounds and alloys. Extractive metallurgy deals with the extraction of metals from the ore and its refinement. Mineral processing takes care of processing of various mineral ores that are obtained from the earths crust.

Career opportunities

There are companies in both the private and public sector that recruit graduates and post graduates in metallurgical engineering. Companies include SAIL (Steel Authority of India), Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, Reliance Industries etc. Various other government organizations that offer jobs to metallurgical engineers are Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)

Graduates in metallurgical engineering can expect a salary of around Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh per annum. In the case of post graduates it is about Rs3 to 4 lakh per annum.