Metallurgy for Absolute Beginners

This half day course is aimed at those who require an introduction to metallurgy at any level that considers little or no prior scientific nor engineering background. The course aims to take some of the mysticism out of metals, looking at why they have different properties, and why some are rarer than others. While the course gives a very broad overview, an effort has been made to concentrate on the applied side of metallurgy, to discuss the techniques commonly used in industry, and the processes used to manufacture metallic products.

• Welcome and Introductions.
• Different types of material. What defines a metal, and why are they so important? Why is platinum expensive, when steel is cheaper than potatoes? (Key definitions)
• What different types of properties are there? What are the different ways in which we can describe metals? (basic knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic properties, ways of identifying and characterising metals)
• What different types of metal are there? What applications are they used for? How do people know which to use? Can we change the properties to make them better? (alloys, compositions, design and selection)
• Coffee Break.
• How do we get from a lump of earth with bits of metal in it, to a useful object? (basics of primary and secondary processing, finishing, joining etc)
• Standards - what they are, and how you use them.
• What can go wrong? (corrosion and failure analysis)

08.45-09.00hrs Registration. 13.00hrs Finish.