The etymological origin of the term metallurgy that concerns us now is found in Greek. Specifically, we can state that it comes from the sum of three lexical components of that language:
-The noun "metallon", which can be translated as "mine gallery".
-The word "ergon", which is synonymous with "work".
-The suffix "-ia", which is used to indicate "quality."
Metallurgy is the set of knowledge, techniques and procedures that allow the extraction and treatment of metals from minerals . The term also allows us to refer to the industry that is dedicated to this activity.
It can be said that metallurgy combines art , science and technology to obtain metals that can be used in multiple ways. Metallurgical work must preserve the environment and, at the same time, it must be sustainable from an economic point of view.
The origins of metallurgy are remote. In the Neolithic , prehistoric man already collected silver , gold and copper that he found in a natural state. Through blows, he generated sheets that he later used. Over the years, furnace casting was discovered and molten metals began to be molded.
Experiments with alloys allowed a new advance in metallurgy and the evolution of humanity. These works led to the creation of all types of tools, instruments, weapons and ornaments.
It is possible to differentiate between several processes that are carried out within the framework of metallurgy. The first task is to obtain the metal from the ore, an action that can be achieved through chemical operations (such as oxidation , leaching and hydrolysis ) or physical operations ( grinding , decanting , centrifuging , distillation , etc.).
The production of alloys and purification to remove impurities are other processes carried out by metallurgy, which is considered one of the most important and dynamic sectors of the economy worldwide.
It is important to know that within metallurgy there are different branches. Among the most significant is extractive metallurgy. This is the one in charge of studying the chemical methods that must be carried out to ensure that the mineral ores, with the corresponding process, allow metals with different degrees of purity to be obtained.
Those operations that are carried out within this aforementioned branch can be of two types: dry methods and wet methods. Both are carried out with elements such as iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, steel or nickel, for example.
Sometimes, metallurgy and steel industry are often confused. However, they are different things. Thus, we can establish that the latter is the metallurgy that is specialized in steel, iron and their corresponding foundries.
We must also point out that the steel industry has very varied applications. Specifically, it is present both in the automotive industry and in the manufacturing of beverage containers and even in the construction sector (structures, facades, roofs, reinforced concrete...).