In extractive metallurgy, engineers remove metals from their ores and refine them to a pure state. Engineers in physical metallurgy develop methods for converting refined metals into useful finished products. Other materials engineers specialize in the production and uses of such synthetic materials as ceramics and plastics. Materials engineers help develop new materials for the aerospace, biomedical, construction, electronic, and nuclear fields. They cooperate with chemical, industrial, and mechanical engineers in working out the complex processes that convert raw materials into finished products.
Mechanical engineering involves the production, transmission, and use of mechanical power.
Mechanical engineers design, operate, and test all kinds of machines. They develop and build engines that produce power from steam, gasoline, nuclear fuels, and other sources of energy. Mechanical engineers are involved in every phase in the development of a machine, from the construction of an experimental model to the installation of the finished machine and the training of the workers who will use it. Mechanical engineers work in many industries, such as power generation, public utilities, transportation, and all types of manufacturing. Many mechanical engineers concentrate on research and development because new types of machinery are continually in demand.