Introduction to Materials Selection
An introduction to the principles of materials selection for engineering applications.
It would be difficult to identify anything that we use that either isn't made from metal or hasn't involved metal somewhere in its manufacture. Metals play a crucial role in everything we do and it is important to appreciate everything about them from how to choose the right one to understanding how it will perform in service.
Our suite of courses highlights key aspects of the application of metals. They are delivered in an accessible and engaging way and are very much focussed on practical side of things.
To earn the IOM3 Certificate in Metallurgy in Practice you must complete three of the courses in the suite within 12 months. Book all three at once to receive a discount on the course fees.
Who is the course aimed at?
The IOM3 Certificate in Metallurgy in Practice is aimed at anyone working in engineering, production or design, and those who manufacture or supply components. It is also a useful introduction for new starters and graduate engineers, in particular those that don't have a materials background.
How is the programme structured?
The IOM3 Certificate in Metallurgy in Practice is awarded to those completing 3 of the following one-day courses within a 12-month window. The courses are held virtually using Zoom.
- Introduction to Materials Selection
Materials selection is at the heart of the design and development process for enfgineering components. This course explores the principles of materials selection, processing and properies, ferrous & non-ferrous alloys, and materials selection for specific applications. - Introduction to Engineering Metallurgy
This course provides an introduction to engineering design using metals and explores the structure, properties and processing of this large and varied group of materials. In particular, this course focusses on fundamentals of metallurgy, processing and properties of steels, non-ferrous metals, and special processes. - Introduction to Mechanical Testing
Mechanical testing is an important part of understanding how materials behave and how they perform in service. This course covers the principles of mechanical testing, tensile, hardness & toughness testing, special test methods, and evaluating test results. - Introduction to Corrosion & Its Prevention
Corrosion and how it can be prevented are issues which impact on every industry and understanding how materials will react in their service environment and how problems can be mitigated are key parts of the design process. This course features modules on the fundamentals of corrosion, corrosion-resistant alloys, and methods for mitigating corrosion. - Introduction to Fracture & Fatigue Failure Analysis
Failure analysis is a crucial tool for developing new, improved components and is important to understanding the factors leading to fatirgue and eventual fracture. This course starts with an introduction to fracture and fatigue and how these failures may be investigated and then goes on to cover the metallurgical, mechanical and environmental factors affecting fracture and fatigue processes, the fractography of fracture surfaces, investigation techniques, and finally a number of case studies. - Introduction to Oilfield Metallurgy
This is a specialist sector involved in understanding the requirements and performance of materials used in the challenging environments of the oil and gas sector. The course explores the challenges of the oilfield environment, basic metallurgy relating to materials used in the sector and a deep dive into the chief corrosion-resistant alloys used, and concerns relating to corrosions and sour service.
How much does the programme cost?
The fee to attend three courses leading to the IOM3 Certificate in Metallurgy in Practice is £1565 + VAT at 20% where applicable. This represents a 5% discount compared to booking three courses separately. IOM3 members and subscribers to our Business Partner Programme are entitled to a discount of 10% on the course fee.
A special rate of £210 is availble to Student & Early Career members of IOM3.
Upcoming course dates:
Mechanical Testing 28 January
Corrosion & Its Prevention 25 February
Materials Selection 12 March
Fracture & Fatigue Failure Analysis 2 April
Oilfield Metallurgy 7 May
Engineering Metallurgy 12 December or 11 June
Register to complete the IOM3 Certificate in Metallurgy in Practice
Your trainer - Dr Clayton Thomas MMet ARSM MICorr
Clayton studied metallurgy at Imperial College and gained a PhD from the University of Sheffield looking at offshore corrosion fatigue. After working for British Steel Technical as a metallurgical investigator and then corrosion test laboratory manager, he joined Cameron (now called One Subsea) in 1990. He eventually became senior metallurgist and worked on major topside and offshore projects for operators such as BP, Shell, AGIP, Total, and Conoco. He also had responsibility for the material selection and corrosion prevention for topside and subsea projects and for the metallurgy and welding of equipment including wellheads, BOPs, flowlines, choke valves, risers, manifolds, Christmas trees and associated items.
Since 2000 Clayton has been director of Lloyd-Thomas Consultancy Ltd, providing metallurgical support and training. He has continued to work in oil and gas as well as other engineering sectors, such as power engineering, aerospace and biomedical, has carried out numerous failures investigations and has acted as an expert witness in litigation cases.
He has run over 250 metallurgy courses on various aspects of metallurgy and has been working with IOM3 since 2020.
