MetalProcessing

Metal processing

Metals processing and forming technologies are areas in which CSIRO has converted science successes into outcomes for industry.

• 9 October 2007 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Our research
• Benefits to industry
• Light metals

Metal processing entails procedures used for extracting metals from their ores, purifying and alloying metals, and engineering objects from metals for use in consumer products.

Our research

CSIRO is investigating a range of sustainable and competitive industry solutions for the processing of metals. 

We are doing this by researching:

• mineral processing
• metal purification and production
• alloy design and consumable formulation
• casting and solid metal forming
• joining/welding processes
• surface modification and coatings 
• heat treatment of metals
• powder metallurgy
• foundry equipment development and smelting techniques
• mechanical testing and metallurgical characterisation
• modelling and simulation techniques to assess various metal processing procedures.

Benefits to industry

Our research, development and commercialisation helps companies develop new products, processes, equipment and know-how to: 

• reduce capital, operating and maintenance costs
• increase equipment utilisation
• improve product quality and process productivity
• reduce emissions, energy use and waste.

Light metals

We also research a number of metal commodities, with an emphasis on light metals:

• aluminium
• magnesium
• titanium.

Through the Light Metals Flagship program, CSIRO and its partners take an integrated, systematic view of the value chain of light metals from production through manufacture to product markets. 

Find out more about our research work in Metals.