Metallurgy
Metallurgy isdomainMaterials Science andMaterials Engineering that studiesphysicalchemical behaviormetallic elementstheir mixtures, whichcalled alloys.
Most metallic elementsbest used inalloyed form,example, steel, brass, aluminum alloys. However some nearly 100% pure elements like semiconductors owe their properties topresencecontrolled amountimpuritiesthem. Metals seemwork as structural materials under loading conditions where sudden failures must be avoided. The metalsstronger than most plasticshave more toughness than most ceramics. Unlike Mechanical Engineers, Metallurgists studymicroscopic mechanisms that causemetal or alloybehave inway thatdoes, i.e.changes that occur onatomic level that affectmetal's (or alloy's) macroscopic properties.
Metallurgyappliedelectronic materials, as metals such as aluminumcopperusedpower lines, wires andtiny electrical connections on computer chips. Itappliedweldingsoldering, two techniquesjoining metals.
Much effort has been placed on understanding one very important alloy system, Iron - Carbon, better known as steel.
Extractive metallurgy ispracticeseparating metals, usually inform ofmetal-oxide, from their ore,refining them intopure metal. In orderconvertmetal-oxide tometal,metal oxide must be reduced either chemically or electrolytically.
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