Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
| Since the dawn of civilisation, the technological development of the human race has been dependent on the discovery, development and use of materials. So significant were certain materials, that the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age mark mankind s progress. Current technology is remarkable for a great diversity of available engineering materials, with complex structures and striking properties. Yet despite this abundance of metals and materials, development in almost all field of engineering is limited by the availability of suitable materials with specific properties. In other words, the nature and quality of the materials in a device are as important as the ingenuity with which is it designed. In addition to the exciting challenge of developing new materials and understanding their properties, physical metallurgy and materials engineering is concerned with optimising the use of raw materials and energy by controlling and developing more efficient fabrication processes. At the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering we address these important aspects through undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training, and through research. Career InformationThe ChallengeThe Metallurgical and Materials Engineering industry in South Africa is broad based, and forms an essential part of the country s infrastructure and export potential. As well as the established metals industry, there is an expanding market for the "new" materials - composites, ceramics and polymers. This is driven partly by the increasing sophistication of industry and partly be the desire to add the greatest possible value to metallurgical products before export. The challenge of these developments is here today. Both the undergraduate curriculum and the research activities at Wits provide the depth, diversity and flexibility required for today s metallurgist and materials engineer to meet the challenge. Graduates with the knowledge and skills to carry out imaginative research on new materials or processes, or to design materials for specific applications are in great demand by industry and government. The minerals and metals industry in South Africa must continue to play a very important role in the economic development of the country. The processing of mineral ores will requires a steadily increasing level of sophistication as the industries diversify from the traditional fields of precious metals and diamonds. South Africa has both the mineral resources required, and an expanding industry for their exploitation.The challenge is here today. The work is tough but fascinating, the rewards are high. The opportunity is yours to grasp The field offers an enormous range of activities and fields of influence, with a high degree of job satisfaction for both men and women. Qualified metallurgists and materials engineers are employed in industry, commerce and government. Industrial careers range across the mining, atomic energy, petrochemical and steel industries. Metallurgical graduates are found in car and aircraft manufacture, defence and many light engineering industries. Clearly, many of the posts involve, or can lead to, a career in management. Additionally, there are many positions for metallurgists and material scientists in research laboratories, whether government, industry or university based. Here, their function is to improve on existing properties and fabrication processes, and to explore new materials. Exciting career opportunities that have recently developed is that of Financial and Asset Management Engineering in the Metallurgical sector, Sales Engineering, Procurement Engineering and Quality-control Engineering. These all require a solid training in metallurgy and materials engineering. The Metallurgy and Materials Engineer is involved in the extraction of metals, the study of their physical properties, the production of alloys, the fabrication and shaping of metals. Today, in order to meet the ever-increasing sophistication of the needs of industry, this engineer makes use of sophisticated skills, from computerised process control to fundamentals of physical chemistry to create the raw materials for a wide range of manufacturing enterprises. Bursaries and Job ProspectsThe demand for metallurgy and materials engineering graduates is high, both in South Africa and internationally. In the words of the Scientific Advisor to the President of the United States, "the most important field in science and engineering today is [the study of] metals and materials". The demand for qualified engineers in the metals and minerals industry will be high as South Africa enters into a manufacturing era using her own resources. Graduates in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering will enter one of the potentially most rewarding sectors of industry. The urgent need to expand the industrial base of South Africa, in order to provide a higher standard of living for all South Africans, will ensure that the demand for metallurgical graduates continues to grow. The future will provide greater and more challenging opportunities for technological and management careers. A career in metallurgical engineering will be both secure and rewarding.The demand for Metallurgy and Materials Engineers is further reflected in the high number of bursaries available for students studying metallurgy and materials engineering. Details of available bursaries can be obtained from: The Liaison Officer Links The Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa (CorrISA) : www.corrosioninstitute.org.za |
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