George S. Ansell Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering plays a role in all manufacturing processes which convert raw materials into useful products adapted to human needs. The primary goal of the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering program is to provide students with a fundamental knowledge-base associated with materials-processing, their properties, and their selection and application.
The emphasis in the Department is on teaching and research focused toward materials processing operations which encompass: the conversion of mineral and chemical resources into metallic, ceramic or polymeric materials; the synthesis of new materials; refining and processing to produce high performance materials for applications from consumer products to automobiles, aerospace and electronics; the development of mechanical, chemical and physical properties of materials related to their processing and structure; and the selection of materials for specific applications.
Recent Departmental Highlights:
May 2013
At the May graduation ceremonies under a beautiful blue Colorado sky, 30 students received their baccalaureate degrees, 17 recived masters degrees and 10 PhD degrees were awarded from the MME department. Of special note were the seniors in the program that were recognized with special honors. Scott Harper and Ryan Marshall were recognized as the Outstanding Graduates in MME. They both graduated summa cum laude. Liz Hunter received the McIvar-MME faculty award. Tiffani Oney was presented with the Clark B. Carpenter Award. Jordan Rutledge and Dannielle Hering received the Mary and Charles Cavanaugh Memorial Award. Jordan Rutledge also was recognized with the H.L. Hazen Award in Process Metallurgy.
Senior Scott Harper has received the school-wide Waltman Award. The Waltman Award winner is recognized by CSM for his/her school and community activities, academic excellence and promise in the future.
Prof. Corby Anderson along with co-inventors Dr. Paul Miranda of Thompson Creek minerals and Dr. Ed Rosenberg of University of Montana were granted a US patent for styrene based ion exchange resins with oxine functionalized groups. The original work was focused on separating iron and gallium, but the technology may have future applicability to the separation of rare earth elements.
Graduate student Caryn Homsher was recognized by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of ASM International with the Young Member of the Year Award for 2013. In the picture she is receiving the award from Research Prof. Emmanuel De Moor, who served as the chairman of the Rocky Mountain Chapter this year.
Graduate student Ryan France has been awarded the William Bonner Scholarship from the Olen Foundation. The funds will support his work in crystal growth. Prof. Brian Gorman is his advisor.
April 2013
At the recent SAE World Congress Research Prof. Emmanuel De Moor along with Profs. David Matlock and John Speer in conjunction with C. Fojer of Arcelor Mittal and J. Penning of Ghent University received the 2012 Sydney H. Melbourne Award for Excellence in Advancement of Automotive Sheet Steel by SAE and AISI for their recent paper which compared the hole expansion properties of steels produced by various processes. The picture at right shows Matlock and DeMoor with their plaques.
Prof. Gerald Bourne was recognized by the graduating seniors as the Outstanding Faculty Member in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
The Charles S. Barrett Award night for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of ASM International was held on the CSM campus this year. Dr. Alton D. Romig Jr., Vice President and General Manager Advanced Developments Programs for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company was the 2013 Barrett Award recipient. He presented a lecture on "Innovations, Skunk Works Style". Dr. Romig is a member of the Visiting Committee for the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department.
Undergraduates Sarah Holmes, Casey Davis, Travis Marsh and Virginia Judge received ASM Rocky Mountain Chapter Scholarships. These scholarships recognize students not only for their academic performance but also for their service to the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering field.
Graduate student Savannah Fitzwater has received a student conference scholarship from the North American Young Generation in Nuclear. The funding will allow her to attend the 2013 Professional Development Workshop and Conference in Washighton, DC.
Prof. Chester Van Tyne took his Forging and Forming class to visit the Western Forge plant in Colorado Springs. Western Forge makes hand tools (e.g. wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, etc.). The students were able to see the hammer forge shop as well as the other manufacturing operations that are needed to produce high quality hand tools. The Forging Industry Education and Research Foundation (FIERF) provided funding that allowed the trip to occur.
March 2013
Mines Wins Materials Bowl for 4th Time
The MME student team defended its championship status and won the TMS Materials Bowl for the fourth time in the last five years. The team was pressed during the opening round and correctly answered the last question worth 5 points to edge out a victory by 2. The semifinal and final matches were not as close with the CSM team dominating those two contests. The team members this year were Greg Lehnhoff (captain), Ellen Verkler, Liz Hunter and Paul Wilson. An interesting note is that Lehnhoff has been a member of all four victorious teams for CSM. The team was supported by the large continency of students and faculty who were attending the TMS meeting in San Antonio, TX.
At the recent meeting of the CSM Board of Trustees the status of University Professor Emeritus was bestowed on Prof. David Olson, who is presently on a 3-year transitional appointment. He retired from CSM last summer after 40 years of service at CSM. At the same meeting the BOT indicated that when Prof. David Matlock retires on May 31 of this year he will also be recognized as a University Professor Emeritus. Prof. Matlock started at CSM in 1972 and will begin a 3-year transitional appointment on July 1. Over the years the MME students have benefited from the teaching, mentoring and guidance given byProfs. Olson and Matlock. It is truly fitting that they be recognized by the BOT with this special honor.
The students in the Forging and Forming class toured A. Finkl & Sons in Chicago, IL. They were able to observe steelmaking, the 8000 ton press, heat treatment and machining operations. Guy Brada (MME BS 1989, MS 1993), chief metallurgist at Finkl, was the host of the visit. The students benefited from not only seeing the facilities but the insightful lectures and interactions with the Finkl engineers. Finkl has provided generous support for this tour since 2000.
Supporters of the MME Program
Arcelor Mittal has generously provided the MME Department with $50,000 last year (and the previous three, also) to foster a better understanding of ferrous metallurgy in the students of our department.