Surgeons use shape memory alloy staples that are easily removed with the wave of a hot wand. All of these new applications were developed by metallurgists who focus on increasing the performance of metals by combining different metallic compounds, manipulating their structure, or manufacturing them in new ways. They also study the imperfections in metal, like its behavior under stress or its rate of oxidation. Metallurgists study corrosion and look for ways to prevent it. They investigate new welding methods, techniques for coating and treating metal surfaces to protect and impart new properties, and look for new ways to combine metals with other materials.
Metallurgists are in great demand across the country.
They find careers in the metals industry, in construction and transportation systems, highways, the electronics and aerospace industries, and in consumer products manufacturing. All rights reserved.