Metallurgy is the branch of materials science that deals with the properties of metals, intermetallic compounds and alloys. Metals, in general, are hard, conduct heat and electricity, and are dense solids at room temperature. Metallurgy also covers the way metals and metallic compounds are used in various applications, such as electronics, structural engineering and architecture.
Metals and Alloys
Metals that are more commonly found in the earth's crust tend to be more commonly used, including aluminum, iron, copper and magnesium. Steel is an example of an alloy, a mixture of more than one metal. Steel is a combination of iron and carbon, although other components can be added (such as chromium or vanadium) to vary the properties of the resulting alloy. Other alloys include bronze (mostly copper and tin) and brass (primarily copper and zinc).
Importance of Metallurgy
Metallurgical information is gathered from alloys and compounds through testing qualities such as tensile strength, compressive strength, hardness and fatigue. Metallurgy is a vital component of human history, leading humans from simple stonework into complex mechanisms and eventually paving the way for the Industrial Revolution.
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Fast Facts
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Iron is a common, useful metal
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Steel is a common alloy of iron and carbonHow Stuff Works: Creating Iron
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Metals can be refined from natural ores
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Metals can be recycled from scrap metals
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Commonly used metals include iron and aluminum
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Some metals are poisonous when consumed
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It includes testing the properties of new metals
