Prove your Metal with a career in Metallurgy

Sakshi Education

Metallurgy and Materials Engineering mainly deals about the extraction of metals from their respective ores. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi was the first to start the Dept of Metallurgy in the year 1925. Currently this branch is offering almost all the premier institutions like: all the IITs (old and new IITs), NITs and Universities.

Materials are so important in the development of civilization that we associate ages with them. In the origin of human life on earth, people used only natural materials, like stone and wood. When people found copper and how to make it harder by alloying, the Bronze Age started about 3000 BC. The use of iron and steel, a stronger material that gave advantage in wars started at about 1200 BC. The next big step was discovered by a cheap process to make steel around 1850, which enabled the railroads and the building of the modern infrastructure of the industrial world. Beginning of the material science - People began to make tools from stone- Start of the Stone Age about two million years ago.

Need to study Materials Science and Engineering

To be able to select a material for a given use based on consideration of cost and performance
To understand the limits of materials and the change of their properties with use.
To be able to create a new material that will have some desirable properties.

All Engineering disciples need to know about materials. Even the most “immaterial” like Software or System Engineering depend on the development of new materials, which in turn alter the economics, like software-hardware trade-offs. A Metallurgist main business is to find out the means to modify and change the metallic properties through the control of composition and the structure of metals. An Engineer understands the degree to which the metallic properties can be changed, and then utilizes the metals and alloys for structural and other useful engineering applications more intelligently.

Dr. APJ Abulkalam, Eminent Materials Scientist and former President of India said; the world’s future is ruled by three “T”, they are:

Bio-Technology (B.T.)
Information-Technology (I.T.)
Nano-Technology (N.T.)

Nano-Technology starts with the Nano Materials; it is a branch of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering.

Eligibility

The Metallurgy and Materials Engg is offered by various IITs, NITs and Govt. and Private Universities throughout the India and in particular in A.P and Telangana. The course is offered as B.E. / B. Tech (Metallurgical. Engg (MT) or Metallurgical and Materials Engg (MMT) )
The eligibility criterion is JEE for IITs and NITs, EAMCET for A.P. and Telangana State Governments and Private Engg. Colleges.
Some of the Institutes offering B.E./B. Tech (Metallurgical Engg.) in A.P are:
- National Institute of Technology, Warangal (As common for both AP & TS 10years)
- National Institute of Technology, Tadepalligudem, AP
- Andhra University College of Engg., Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
- JNTU Vizianagaram of JNTU Kakinada University College
- Yogi Vemana University (Pulivendala)
- IIITs of Nuzived and Pulivendala (Eligibility is merit in SSC examination)
Some of the Institutes offering B.E./B. Tech (Metallurgical Engg.) in Telangana state are:
- National Institute of Technology, Warangal (As common for both AP & TS 10years)
- JNTU Hyderabad
- JNTU Sultanapur as Mechanical Engg with Nano Materials
- IIIT - Basara (Eligibility is merit in SSC examination)
- MGIT, Hyderabad
Some of the Institutes offering Diploma (Metallurgical Engg.) in A.P and Telangana are:
- Govt. Polytechnic, Visakhapatnam
- Govt. Polytechnic, Vijayawada
- Govt. Polytechnic, Vizianagaram
- Govt. Polytechnic, Kothagudem
- Govt. Polytechnic, Hyderabad
Higher education options with this branch:
After completion of B.E. / B.Tech in Met. Engg.; one can purse for higher studies like:
- M. Tech in Metallurgical Engg, then go for Job either in Industry or Research etc.
- M. Tech in Metallurgical Engg, then Ph D in Metallurgical Engg., can choose a Job in Teaching as ‘Assistant Professor’, or Research & Development as ‘Scientist’.
- M.S. in Materials Science through GRE and TOFEL , IELTS score for USA, UK, Germany etc
- National University of Singapore is offering direct Ph D for meritorious students in B. Tech (Met. Engg through GATE score)
- Foreign and higher studies:
  - Most of the reputed universities offer Post-Graduation and
  - Doctorial courses (Ph D) in Materials Engineering.
  - Securing a good rank in GATE exam relatively easy in this branch because less number of students will appear for GATE exam;
  - Hence, one can get easy entry into IIT’s, NITs and also in reputed industries for Job.
  - Qualifying GRE can also land you in Foreign Universities.
Course Analysis
Metallurgical Engineering is a broad field that deals with all sorts of metal related areas. The main branches of this field are:
- Extractive Metallurgy: It involves extraction of metals from ores.
- Physical Metallurgy: It deals with problem solving. You will develop the sorts of metallic alloys needed for different types of manufacturing and construction.
- Mechanical Metallurgy: It deals about the various testing methods and its mechanisms of metals and alloys
- Welding Metallurgy: It involves the studies on various metal joining processes.
- Corrosion Metallurgy: Deals about the loss of materials during the servicing condition with respect to corrosive atmosphere.
- Studies on advanced materials like: Polymers, Ceramics, Composite, Nano materials etc.
- Bio materials (Those are interested in Biology and its relevant research this is the right branch to develop Bio materials used in human bodies)
Job prospects (Govt and private) and job demand in the market:
Metallurgical Engg is a promising field with a 100% job guarantee. The reason behind is: Limited no of colleges are offering this course, resulting less no of graduates are available per year compare to any other branches like Mechanical, EEE, ECE, CSE etc. The jobs are plenty. The majority of the recruitment is in Industries, where they need more of Metallurgist; hence bulk recruitments for Metallurgy graduates.
Job profile
- After pursuing a degree in Metallurgical Engineering, it has a broad field which deals with all sorts of metal related areas.
- In industries:
  - If your goal is to land in industry, specific requirements like alloy design, chemistry control, materials quality control procedures, corrective actions for quality issues, materials specifications can be a cutting edge in industries.
- Areas of research:
- Areas of research include your subject of interest. Metallurgy doesn’t rely only on altering the physical and chemical properties of metals, because Materials Engineering is an inter-disciplinary science and involves properties of matter with applications to various branches of science and engineering.
- Most research areas include-Metal Forming, Material Science, Crystallography Technique, Powder Metallurgy, Nano science and Nano technology, Forensic Engineering, etc……
- The origin to most areas of research comes from the question “Why do materials behave the way they do?”
Salary for the successful candidates
- In industries like SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd) and RINL (Visakhapatnam Steel Plant) – 5.0 to 8 Lakhs Per Annum
- In IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Ltd) – 6.0 Lakhs Per Annum
- In other private industries- 5.0 to 6.0 Lakhs Per Annum
- In Research labs like DMRL (Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory) – 5-6L Per Annum.
- And after MS in a reputed foreign university around 2.0 Lakhs pm in foreign.
Career graph
- Metallurgical Engineering graduates must possess an open mind and should limit themselves to popularly heard jobs. Sometimes putting your specialized training and creativity into practical use can provide good salaries, benefits and remuneration in industries.
- Metallurgical Engineering graduates career is highly job satisfactory with good remuneration packages.
Top companies offering jobs
Ferrous (Iron & Steel) Industries: As a Junior Manager
- Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL),
- Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Visakhapatnam
- Jindal Steel Works (JSW) - Bellary,
- TISCO- Jamshedpur,
- POSCO,
- USHA Martin group,
- Essar Steels- Gujarat etc.
- National Mineral Developing Corporation (NMDC)
- Kudrumukh Iron Ore Ltd, Mangalore
- Foundry industries like: Ennore foundries (Ashok Leyland), Kulti Foundries, Asansol, West Bengal
- Ferro alloy plants (FACOR, Garividi, Vizianagaram)
- Sponge Iron ltd (SIIL), Palvancha, Khammam
Non- Ferrous (Al, Cu etc) Industries: As a Junior Manager
- National Alumnium Co. Ltd. (NALCO),
- HINDALCO,
- Sterlite group,
- Hindustan Zinc Ltd.,
- Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL),
- MIDHANI, etc.
- Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad
- BHEL, etc
Oil Companies: As a Junior Manager
- HPCL,
- IOCL etc.
Research Institutes: As a Scientist:
- DMRL (Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory),
- NML (National Metallurgical Laboratory),
- BARC (Bhaba Atomic Research Center)- Mumbai,
- IGCAR (Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research)- Kalpakkam,
- Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd (HAL) - Bangalore etc.
- CMET- Labs, Hyderabad
- ARCI, Hyderabad

Conclusion:
It is a misconception of everyone that Metallurgy is easy only when we are perfect in chemistry. But this is a wrong dimension. A Metallurgical concept is a combination of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Even if you are weak in one subject the other two subjects help you out to understand the concept and strengthen the weakness. A student who aims to excel in Nano science can opt this branch. This is an interesting subject and easily understandable by everyone. A student with strong determination towards success can be taken to peak levels in his career.

Dr. Babu Rao Jinugu