metallurgische

Metallurgische is the German adjective used to describe topics related to metallurgy. In English, the corresponding term metallurgical denotes the science and technology of metals, encompassing the extraction, refinement, shaping, and evaluation of metallic materials and their properties.

Metallurgy is commonly divided into two broad areas: extractive metallurgy and physical metallurgy. Extractive metallurgy focuses on obtaining metals from ore, including pyrometallurgy (high-temperature processing), hydrometallurgy (aqueous processing), and electrometallurgy (electrochemical techniques). Physical metallurgy (often paired with materials science) covers alloy design, phase equilibria, heat treatment, deformation processing, and the characterization of microstructure and properties to tailor performance.

Typical metallurgical processes include mining and ore dressing, smelting and refining to produce pure metals, alloying to achieve desired properties, casting and forming (such as rolling, forging, and extrusion), and heat treatment to modify strength and hardness. Surface engineering and coatings may be applied to improve wear, corrosion resistance, or tribological behavior. Recycling and secondary metallurgy are increasingly important, with processes designed to recover metals from scrap and to produce high-purity alloys in a sustainable manner.

Analytical methods in metallurgy involve spectroscopy, microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and various mechanical and thermal tests to assess composition, structure, and performance. The field underpins multiple industries, notably steel, aluminum, copper, and specialty alloys, and intersects with environmental considerations, energy efficiency, and advancing technologies such as additive manufacturing and low‑carbon steel production.