INTRODUCTION

                           Metallurgy, science and technology of metals and their alloys. the term 'property' in a broader sense, may be defined as the quantity, which defines the specific characteristics of a metal. Materials are the driving force behind the technological revolutions and are the key ingredients for manufacturing. Materials are everywhere around us, and we use them in one way or the other. As a matter of fact, the following properties of metals are important for an engineer, to enable him in selecting suitable metals for his various jobs.

1. Physical properties

           These include shape, size, color, specific gravity, porosity, structure, finish etc.,

2. Mechanical properties

        These include elasticity, plasticity, ductility, malleability, brittleness, hardness, stiffness, resilience, creep, strength, machinability etc., 

3. Thermal properties

        These include specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, latent heat, thermal stress, thermal shock etc.,

4. Electrical properties

        These include conductivity, resistivity, relative capacity, dielectric strength etc.,

5. Magnetic properties

         These include magnetic and non magnetic etc.,

6. Chemical properties

    These include atomic weight, equivalent weight, molecular weight, acidity, chemical composition, corrosion etc.,