Metallurgical Engineering

By: David Niebuhr


Metallurgical engineering is problem solving or development of products using the engineering disciplines of materials science and metallurgy. If metallurgy is the development and production of metallic components, then a simple explanation of metallurgical engineering is optimizing the metallic elements and compounds for a specific function.

Metals or metallic compounds are seen in everyday applications like vehicles, jewelry or a tube of toothpaste. The material used in the tube of toothpaste is likely not the same material used in a vehicle or a necklace - each application requires different metallurgical properties to enable that product to be marketable. The development and advancement of metallurgical engineering in the latest century has enabled us to build bridges that hold unimaginable weight, aircrafts that are lightweight while still being extremely powerful, and engine parts that are more durable and can withstand very high temperatures.

Aluminum, copper, titanium and nickel are commonly studied and experimented with in metallurgical engineering. We create alloys by mixing these elements and metallic compounds, each of which will have properties and characteristics distinctly different than the others. Metallurgical engineers often are called upon to develop specific alloys to meet specific requirements and design criteria.

These measurable characteristics are cost, weight, strength, hardness, and fatigue resistance to name a few. Another important feature of an alloy that metallurgical engineering specialists are interested in is the maximum temperature the alloy can handle and its performance at that temperature.

Tribology

The science of friction, or more specifically, the study of moving parts that rub against each other, is Tribology. The study of lubrication and wear and the pro active materials to prevent wear is a very important part of tribology. All motors, bearing and other moving parts of any machine require a study of tribology for friction and wear.

The field of tribology was not truly brought into the limelight until the late 1700s when the wear rate of gold coins was researched and tested. In the 14th century Leonardo da Vinci studied tribology and wrote of the laws of friction. Nothing between those two dates has been recorded in history.

Tribologists and other scientists spend much time researching the relationships in metallurgical engineering and failure analysis. The study of wear of moving parts is the primal definition of tribology.

Automobiles and both commercial and military aircraft are the largest markets today for metallurgical engineering. These forms of transportation need to be safe and reliable. As they get older the parts experience compromised integrity and do not perform reliably.

It's very important to metallurgical engineers that when engine components, lock-gates, bearings or railroad system are designed, tribology is studied and proper configuration and materials are utilized for all parts in question.

Engineering Consultant

In any engineering business, whether designing a new concept or producing and improving an already established product, there is an infinite number of related disciplines that need to work together as a team. Sometimes small businesses do not staff for each engineering field that is needed for a project and rely on an engineering consultant, as a certified expert in that needed field.

On the other side of the spectrum, large corporations also use engineering consultants as when emerging into a new market or un-chartered territory, like an automotive engine manufacturer expanding to build jet engines as well. The company in this example would hire an engineering consultant to ensure that the design, materials, manufacturing processes and assembly techniques are up to the latest engineering standards.

Often a different engineering consultant will be drafted for the different topics or projects involved in the business expansion. Sometimes one individual or a firm will be hired on to coordinate an entire transition.

Engineering consultants are simply specialists in a specific area of engineering or a particular type of problem solving situation. Companies and businesses of all sizes and types can utilize engineering consultants to either outsource work or to gain an extensive amount of expertise in a precise scope of work.

A few types of engineering consultants' specific disciplines are aerospace engineering, metallurgical engineering, materials engineering, automotive engineering, structures engineering, industrial engineering and manufacturing engineering. These engineers would work together with the team to solve a critical issue with the business. The demand for engineering consultants is growing more and more each year as technology is advancing and standards are increasing.

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David Niebuhr Metal Fatigue, Tribology.
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