A metallurgist is a type of engineer who studies the properties of metals. Metals extraction can be heavily involved with geology, so metallurgists may also have geology training. An understanding of geology can be important to some people who work with metals. Metallurgists can be found working in a wide range of settings all over the world, and job prospects are generally good in this field.
A metallurgist specializes in extracting useful metals from ores. He or she may also be interested in purification and alloying processes, as well as working with metals to develop well-known products and developing new metals that can be used to solve a variety of engineering problems. Chemical and physical metallurgists look at things that stress metal, such as fatigue, corrosion, and temperature changes, to study its chemical and physical properties. A process metallurgist specializes in transforming metal into something useful and researching new ways to manufacture and use metal products.
To become a metallurgist, you must usually enroll in a training program that provides opportunities for people interested in metallurgy careers, which can range from a technical school that teaches forging techniques to a college or university engineering program. Although this method of learning metallurgy is less common, some metallurgists may learn their skills on the job, initially under supervision and then independently.
Metallurgists spend a lot of time studying metals and conducting experiments with them in the lab. They can also work in smelting plants, where they supervise the production and alloying of metals, as well as the handling of metal ores. Others work for companies that manufacture metal products, such as automobile manufacturers, which may hire metallurgists to design cars for maximum safety and efficiency. Metallurgists can work for private consulting firms or governments, providing services ranging from forensic investigations into bridge failures to policy recommendations to standardize metal products.
Heavy industry isn’t the only application of metallurgy. A metallurgist can help with the creation of jewelry and other fine arts that involve metals, such as supervising the alloy of metals used in jewelry to ensure that the metal maintains its high quality, and assisting jewelers and sculptors with the fabrication of complex custom projects. This aspect of the field necessitates a combination of engineering knowledge and artistic flair, as well as the ability to communicate with a wide range of people and businesses, from a jeweler concerned about quality control to a company that sells metals used in jewelrymaking.