What is the role of applied chemistry in Metallurgy?

Answer 1

Metallurgy and Materials Engineering is the science and technology of producing, processing and giving proper shape to metals and alloys and other Engineering Materials having desired properties through economically viable process.

Metallurgy and Materials Engineering has played a crucial role in the development of human civilization beginning with bronze-age some 3000 years ago when tools and weapons were mostly produced from the metals and alloys. This science has matured over millennia and still plays crucial role by supplying materials having suitable mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and reliability for almost all the industries including transport, construction, agriculture, textiles, chemical processing, power generation and so on. These days the discipline of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering also encompasses other engineering materials such as ceramics, plastics, polymers, composites, electrical electronics and magnetic materials.

In Pakistan the progress of metallurgical industries has picked up since the establishment of Pakistan Steel Mills and other allied industries. The Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering offers a four-year degree course titled Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy & Materials. The subjects mineral dressing, iron and steel making technology, physical metallurgy, heat treatment processes, manufacturing technology, science of engineering materials and advanced materials form the basis for the degree course. However, other related subjects are also included in the course to make it versatile and integratable with other fields of engineering. Adequate laboratory facilities are also available in the field of materials testing, metallography, casting, heat treatment, fabrication and welding.

A seminar hall-cum-library has also been established in the department to provide in house reference material for the faculty members and students. A computer Pentium-III P.C. lab. consists internet, E-mail and various application software facilities are present for students. The students have also to complete a project and dissertation in the final year involving research/special studies to give them more comprehensive experience of practical work and report writing. A student chapter has been established in the Department in affiliation with Association of Iron Steel USA.

Main objective of the students chapter is to bridge the gap between University and Industries and to enhance the technical knowledge to the students by organizing various seminars and Industrial visits. The Department also offers Postgraduate Diploma (P.G.D) and Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Material Sciences and Technology which at present is a part time evening program. The Department has prepared PC-I approx. cost Rs. 40 million for strengthening the existing lab. Facilities and launching Ph.D research program in the field of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering

The development of nuclear energy both for weapons and more particularly for peaceful applications is essentially a new branch of applied science. Like many new engineering projects some of the limitations to future progress depend on metallurgical difficulties. Problems arising in the construction of the large chemical plants for any nuclear power project are essentially the same in kind, although perhaps rather more acute in character, as those in normal chemical industry where dangerous and toxic chemicals are involved. On the other hand, the manufacture of fuels for nuclear reactors has required a new industry to be set up for the extraction of uranium, and other new metals are becoming increasingly important if progress is not to be retarded. Apart from new metals, new alloys and higher quality material in conventional metals have been required for the protection of uranium from attack by the coolants used. From the earliest days this has been one of the acute problems of nuclear energy. Finally the metallurgical problem peculiar to atomic energy is the development of materials which will withstand the effects of neutron irradiation. The effects on non-fissile materials are usually minor changes in physical properties, but on fissile material the effects are much more severe. At lower temperatures the anisotropic nature of uranium results in large dimensional changes which are being overcome by grain refinement techniques involving alloying and heat treatment. At high temperatures the gaseous fission products tend to expand and disrupt the material by mechanisms which are not yet fully understood, and for which cures are still being developed.

Metallurgy is the area of materials science that focuses on metals, compounds formed from metals, and the mixtures of metals which are known as alloys. Metallurgical engineering is where refining ends and production begins. This means mixing metals together in order to form alloys which share the appropriate combination of traits such as strength and weight. The goal of metallurgical engineering is to find the right balance of properties such as weight, strength, hardness, toughness, and resistance to rust, fatigue, and extreme temperatures.

Answer 2

Applied chemistry in metallurgy involves understanding the chemical properties of metals and how they interact with different elements to create alloys with desired characteristics. This knowledge is crucial for developing advanced processes for extracting, refining, and shaping metals to meet specific industrial needs. Additionally, applied chemistry in metallurgy is important for optimizing the performance and durability of metal components in various applications.