The Herald Online

Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Katrina Dillehay Dr. Zariff (Zac) Chaudhury, right, and the Director of Technology discuss the new metallurgy option for ASU and what the program is about during Thursday afternoon's Lecture Concert Series.

Metal, metal everywhere, but many don't know how to manipulate it. Dr. Zariff (Zac) Chaudhury, associate professor of metallurgical engineering technology, presented a seminar Thursday about what metallurgy is, opportunities in the field, and the new metallurgy program ASU-J is now offering technology majors.

What is This Big Word?

According to Chaudhury, metallurgy is an area that deals with metals and alloys. It is a type of technology/engineering that takes root in principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Metallurgists use various techniques in changing the properties of metal; these include heat treatment, surface hardening, etc.

This field of study has relevance in that metals surround us in our day-to-day lives.

"Your cookeries, your utensils, your brass, bronze, stainless steel, all [of these] you see in your daily life," Chaudhury said. "Your cars, bicycles, trains, airplanes-all are products made from metals and alloys."

People who choose metallurgical engineering/technology careers are responsible for supplying and developing materials used by people in almost every other engineering field. Demand for workers who know metallurgy is very high in the job market right now. High demand for workers increases income for those who are hired in the field, according to Chaudhury.

Government/defense, the steel industry, the auto industry, research and development, the welding industry, the manufacturing industry, the mining industry, and several others employ metallurgical students, especially in Northeast Arkansas. According to an article found in The Jonesboro Sun, titled "Metal Man," this region is the nation's second-largest steel-producing area.

What's Up With This New Option Offered at ASU?

ASU metallurgy students will learn to extract metals from ores/minerals, how to produce metals, how to process them, and what exactly the physical/mechanical properties of metals are.

Two courses have been approved to provide this knowledge. These two are titled "Introduction to Metallurgy" and "Heat Treatment of Industrial Alloys." Proposed courses include metallography and materials testing, ferrous metallurgy, non-ferrous metallurgy, refractories and ceramics, powder metallurgy, and surface technology of materials. A total of 15 to 16 hours will be required to satisfy the requirements for this emphasis.

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