Program: BEngHons Metallurgical Engineering

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Code Faculty Department
12240063 Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology Department: Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 1 jaar Totale krediete: 128 NQF level:  08

Programinligting

Refer also to G16-G29.

The curriculum is determined in consultation with the relevant heads of departments. A student is required to pass modules to the value of at least 128 credits.

The degree is awarded on the basis of examinations only.

Admission requirements

  1. BEng degree awarded by the University of Pretoria or equivalent degree or relevant four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering that the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) regards as acceptable for registration as a candidate engineer and for eventual registration as a professional engineer
  2. An entrance examination may be required
  3. Comprehensive intellectual CV

Other programme-specific information

A limited number of appropriate modules from other departments are allowed.

Examinations and pass requirements

Refer also to G18 and G26.

  1. The examination in each module for which a student is registered, takes place during the normal examination period after the conclusion of lectures (i.e. October/November or May/June).
  2. G18(1) applies with the understanding that under exceptional circumstances an extension of a maximum of three years may be approved: provided that the Dean, on reccommendation of the relevant head of department, may approve a stipulated limited extension of this period.
  3. A student must obtain at least 50% in an examination for each module where no semester or year mark is required. A module may only be repeated once.
  4. In modules where semester or year marks are awarded, a minimum examination mark of 40% and a final mark of 50% is required.
  5. No supplementary or special examinations are granted at postgraduate level.

Pass with distinction

A student passes with distinction if he or she obtains a weighted average of at least 75% (not rounded) in the first 128 credits for which he or she has registered (excluding modules which were discontinued timeously). The degree is not awarded with distinction if a student fails any one module (excluding modules which were discontinued timeously). The degree must be completed within the prescribed study period. 

Minimum krediete: 120

Choose electives to the value of at least 96 credits.

Core modules

  • Module-inhoud:

    At the end of the module, students should be able to conceptualise and design new electrometallurgical processes and improve the operation of existing processes through an understanding of the basic principles of the thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemistry, measurement techniques used in electrochemistry, and considering the principles of electrochemical reactor design, different electrode and cell configurations, role of additives to electrolytes, role of impurities in the electrowinning process, the steps involved in electrocrystallization processes and present practices used for the electrowinning of metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, manganese and gold.

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Elective modules

  • Module-inhoud:

    At the end of the module, students should be able to conceptualise and design new electrometallurgical processes and improve the operation of existing processes through an understanding of the basic principles of the thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemistry, measurement techniques used in electrochemistry, and considering the principles of electrochemical reactor design, different electrode and cell configurations, role of additives to electrolytes, role of impurities in the electrowinning process, the steps involved in electrocrystallization processes and present practices used for the electrowinning of metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, manganese and gold.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    The module deals with the basic understanding of phase transformations in alloys, and its relationship with microstructure and mechanical properties of alloys. Included are transformation processes such as solidification; nucleation, growth and coarsening of precipitates; the use of carbides and intermetallic compounds in steels; static and dynamic re-crystallisation; grain growth and the use of grain boundary engineering; the martensite, bainite and pearlite transformations; thermomechanical processing and some elements of quantitative metallography. The course is practice orientated; the current best fundamental understanding of these transformation processes covered, and its role in engineering application demonstrated. The course is fully documented on CD-ROM from the latest literature and is largely intended for that research student who is embarking on a physical metallurgical research project.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    The emphasis is on the practice of the heat treatment of steels, covering the following topics: introduction and fundamental aspects of the  Fe-C  system; alloying elements; tempering of martensite; pearlite and bainite formation, hardenability; annealing, normalizing, hardening and tempering; stress relieving, use of CCT and TTT diagrams, HSLA steels, tool steels; stainless steels, heat treatment furnaces and their atmospheres, induction hardening, carburisation, nitriding, mechanical testing, non-destructive examination and heat treatment, hydrogen embrittlement, temper embrittlement, quantitative metallography for quality control, heat treatment for fracture toughness and heat treatment case studies.  The course is partly available on CD-ROM with up-to-date references to the latest literature.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    The aim with this course is to enable the students to understand the design and operation of hydrometallurgical processes for the beneficiation of minerals and metals. The theoretical basis of the solution chemistry underlying hydrometallurgical processes, the purification and concentration options available, and the metal recovery processes such as precipitation, hydrogen reduction, and electrowinning are reviewed. This is then followed by the consideration of the engineering aspects and the technical application of hydrometallurgical processes for a number of ores relevant to South Africa.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    The aim with this course is to facilitate the development of the students in corrosion engineering by considering the electrochemical fundamentals of corrosion processes as well as their experimental and practical implications for corrosion diagnosis and control. The practical manifestations of the broad types of corrosion are reviewed and the skills of the students to utilise corrosion control methodologies such as chemical and electrochemical control, protective coatings and material selection to control corrosion are developed.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    We cover the interaction between the internal structure of metals – on the atomic and microscopic scales – and their mechanical properties. Practically important topics such as elastic and plastic stress analysis, dislocations and deformation, room and high temperature deformation processes, mechanical property/microstructure relationships for low and medium Carbon steels and for micro-alloyed and HSLA steels, fatigue processes, stress corrosion cracking, creep deformation processes and fracture mechanics are covered in depth, and illustrated with case studies.  The course is largely available on  CD-ROM  with references to the latest literature.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    Principles and advanced theory of comminution, classification and density separation are covered.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    This module covers both the theory and practice of sampling, primarily with respect to the minerals processing industry.  As sampling is statistical in nature, basic statistics relevant to sampling theory will be considered.  The module will then focus on the theory of sampling with specific reference to managing large and small scale variability.  The effect of interpolation errors, periodic errors and increment weighting errors will be considered under large scale variability.  Under small scale variability the determination and management of various errors that result in small scale variability will be covered, as well as the compilation of sampling protocols that can minimise these errors.  The module will also examine the evaluation of dry and wet sampling equipment with respect to the different bias generators, as well as the implementation of sampling protocols in practice.  Ore types covered during the course include coal, iron ore, gold and platinum.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    The aim is to solve metallurgical problems with the aid of hi-tech analytical techniques. These different analytical techniques are given in modular form and the respective metallurgical area of specialisation will dictate  the combination of three techniques to suit the requirements of the research student. Specialisation areas like Physical Metallurgy, Welding Metallurgy, Hydro Metallurgy, Pyro Metallurgy and Minerals Processing are covered and any other combination can be requested by the study leaders after consultation with the course leader. The techniques included are TEM, SEM, Auger Spectroscopy (AES), X-ray Photo-electron Spectroscopy (XPS), Glow Discharge Optical emission Spectroscopy (GDOES), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Gleeble hot working simulations and Dilatometry. Lectures cover the theory of these techniques in depth and the theory is illustrated with industrial case studies.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    We aim to provide you with practice in using fundamental principles to analyse pyrometallurgical processes – to be able to go from understanding to process improvement. To this end, the necessary fundamentals of reaction equilibria (including activity descriptions), reaction kinetics, and mass and energy balances are reviewed. Practical examples illustrate the use of these principles. In the final block, we analyse a number of practical processes in more detail. Throughout, the emphasis is on quantification.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    Fundamentals of sulphide and coal flotation are covered, including the chemistry of sulphide mineral flotation; natural and induced hydrophobicity; physical and chemical interactions in coal flotation; review of sulphydryl and oxydryl collectors and their absorption mechanisms; the role of activators/depressants and pH regulators as well as an investigation of frothers and froth stability, with reference to recent industrial developments.  Aspects of flotation practice are addressed: Experimental methods for laboratory and plant trials; basic and complex flotation circuits with examples from recent developments; control in flotation plants: reagents/conditioning.  Finally, relevant interfacial surface chemistry is covered: the role of water in flotation; mechanisms and thermodynamics of collector activity.

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  • Module-inhoud:

    The objective is to convey a fundamental understanding of the principles that are involved in the manufacture, selection and use of refractories. Relevant thermodynamic principles are reviewed, with emphasis on the thermodynamic properties of oxide materials, metals and slags, and how these affect refractory performance. Phase diagram use in refractory selection and prediction of slag-metal-refractory interactions is covered. A section on manufacture covers the types of raw materials, design and formulation, handling, manufacturing routes, and quality control (including practical mineralogy). Finally, design properties of refractories for the ferrous, cement, aluminium, copper, platinum and ferro-alloy industries are reviewed.

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The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations. The G Regulations are updated annually and may be amended after the publication of this information.

Regulations, degree requirements and information
The faculty regulations, information on and requirements for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

University of Pretoria Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) verification project
The higher education sector has undergone an extensive alignment to the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQSF) across all institutions in South Africa. In order to comply with the HEQSF, all institutions are legally required to participate in a national initiative led by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The University of Pretoria is presently engaged in an ongoing effort to align its qualifications and programmes with the HEQSF criteria. Current and prospective students should take note that changes to UP qualification and programme names, may occur as a result of the HEQSF initiative. Students are advised to contact their faculties if they have any questions.

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