Metallurgical, Ceramic, and Materials Engineers

• Nature of the Work

  Metallurgical, ceramic, and materials engineers develop new types of metal alloys, ceramics, composites, and other materials which meet special requirements. Examples are graphite golf club shafts that are light but stiff, ceramic tiles on the space shuttle that protect it from burning up during reentry, and the alloy turbine blades in a jet engine.

  Most metallurgical engineers work in one of the three main branches of metallurgy-extractive or chemical, physical, and mechanical or process. Extractive metallurgists are concerned with removing metals from ores and refining and alloying them to obtain useful metal. Physical metallurgists study the nature, structure, and physical properties of metals and their alloys, and methods of processing them into final products. Mechanical metallurgists develop and improve metalworking processes such as casting, forging, rolling, and drawing.

  Ceramic engineers develop new ceramic materials and methods for making ceramic materials into useful products. Ceramics include all nonmetallic, inorganic materials which require high temperatures in their processing. Ceramic engineers work on products as diverse as glassware, semiconductors, automobile and aircraft engine components, fiber-optic phone lines, tile, and electric power line insulators.

  Materials engineers evaluate technical requirements and material specifications to develop materials that can be used, for example, to reduce the weight, but not the strength of an object. Materials engineers also test and evaluate materials and develop new materials, such as the composite materials now being used in "stealth" aircraft.

• Working Conditions for Engineers

• Employment

  Metallurgical, ceramic, and materials engineers held nearly 19,000 jobs in 1994. Over one-fourth worked in metal-producing and processing industries. They also worked in research and testing services, government agencies, industries that manufacture machinery, electrical equipment, and aircraft and aircraft parts, and in engineering consulting firms.

• Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement for Engineers

• Job Outlook

  Individuals seeking to become employed as metallurgical, ceramic, and materials engineers should find good opportunities, as the number of anticipated job openings should be sufficient to absorb the relatively low number of new graduates in this engineering discipline.

  Employment of metallurgical, ceramic, and materials engineers is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Many of the industries in which they are concentrated, such as stone, clay, and glass products, primary metals, fabricated metal products, and transportation equipment industries, are expected to experience little if any employment growth through the year 2005. Anticipated employment growth in service industries, such as research and testing services and engineering and architectural services, however, should provide significant job openings as these firms are employed to develop improved materials for their industrial customers.

  (See introductory section of this chapter for information on training requirements, earnings, and sources of additional information.)

• Earnings of Engineers

• Related Occupations for Engineers

  Engineers apply the principles of physical science and mathematics in their work. Other workers who use scientific and mathematical principles include physical scientists, life scientists, computer scientists, mathematicians, engineering and science technicians, and architects.

• Sources of Additional Information about Engineers

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