Metallurgical Terms

noun the process of heating a substance to a high temperature in order to bring about chemical changes, such as the removal of volatile components

• The process of calcination involves heating a substance to a high temperature in order to bring about chemical changes.
• Calcination is when you heat something up really hot to change its composition.
• Calcination is like cooking for chemicals - just heat it up and see what happens!
• In life, going through challenges can be seen as a form of calcination, where we are heated up and transformed into something stronger.

noun a powdery substance consisting of the oxide of a metal, obtained by heating the metal in air or oxygen

• The chemist analyzed the calx residue left in the crucible.
• I accidentally spilled some calx powder on the lab table.
• Hey, can you pass me that calx stuff over there?
• The calx of his past mistakes still haunted him in his dreams.

adjective lacking refinement or delicacy

• The fabric used for the curtains was quite coarse to the touch.
• I can't wear this shirt, it feels too coarse against my skin.
• I hate how coarse this sandpaper feels, it's rough on my hands.
• His language was coarse and offensive, making everyone uncomfortable.

noun A metal that can be drawn out into a thin wire.

adjective Capable of being drawn out into a thin wire or thread without breaking.

• The ductile metal was easily stretched into a thin wire.
• I was surprised by how ductile the clay was when I was sculpting.
• That ductile material is so easy to work with!
• Her ductile personality allowed her to adapt to any situation.

noun a type of brick that is designed to withstand high temperatures, typically used in fireplaces or furnaces

• The exterior of the building was made of firebrick to ensure fire resistance.
• I love the look of the firebrick fireplace in our living room.
• That firebrick oven makes the best pizzas in town.
• His anger burned like a firebrick, intense and unyielding.

noun a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

verb to produce or cause to produce froth

• The froth on top of the cappuccino was perfectly steamed and frothy.
• I love how the beer froth tickles my nose when I take a sip.
• The froth on that wave was epic, dude!
• His anger was like froth on a boiling pot, ready to spill over at any moment.

noun a person who is unfeeling or unyielding

verb to make or become hard or solid

adjective hardened or unfeeling

• The scientist's theory was indurate, supported by years of research and evidence.
• She's pretty indurate about her decision to quit her job and travel the world.
• I can't believe how indurate he is about going to that concert, he won't stop talking about it.
• His heart had become indurate after years of betrayal and disappointment.

verb to remove or dissolve out substances from a material by the action of a liquid

• The chemicals leached into the soil, causing contamination.
• The rain leached all the color out of my new jeans.
• I accidentally leached all the flavor out of my pasta sauce.
• The artist's emotions leached into every brushstroke of the painting.

noun great mental or physical effort

verb work hard or toil

• The workers toiled and moiled under the scorching sun to complete the construction project on time.
• I've been moiling away at this assignment all night and I still can't figure it out.
• I'm moiling over what to wear to the party tonight.
• Her mind moiled with conflicting emotions as she tried to make a decision.

noun the quality or state of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, or pollutes

• The purity of the water in this natural spring is unmatched.
• I love the purity of her intentions, she always has good motives.
• That party was lit, everyone was vibing with the purity of the music.
• The artist's painting captured the purity of emotion in a way that words cannot express.

noun a person or thing that is sacrificed

adjective relating to or involving sacrifice

• The ancient ritual involved a sacrificial offering to appease the gods.
• The villagers made a sacrificial gesture to thank their ancestors.
• I can't believe you made such a sacrificial move in the game!
• She made a sacrificial decision to prioritize her family over her career.

verb to make or become solid, hard, or firm

• The company aims to solidify its position in the market by expanding its product line.
• I need to solidify my plans for the weekend before we make any reservations.
• Let's solidify our crew for the party tonight.
• Through hard work and dedication, she was able to solidify her reputation as a top performer in the industry.

noun a word that describes a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective relating to or located between dendrites (branching projections of a neuron)

• The interdendritic spacing in the solidified alloy was found to be quite narrow.
• The spaces between the dendrites in the solid alloy were really close together.
• Man, those dendrites were practically touching in the alloy!
• The interdendritic relationships between the team members were strained, causing tension in the workplace.

noun a mineral composed of calcium fluoride, used as a flux in iron smelting and as a source of fluorine for the chemical industry

• Fluorspar, also known as fluorite, is a mineral composed of calcium fluoride.
• I heard they found a new deposit of fluorspar up in the mountains.
• Some people believe that fluorspar has healing properties.
• Her words were as sharp and cutting as a piece of fluorspar.

noun a radioactive metallic chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90

• Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive chemical element.
• I heard thorium is being considered as a potential alternative to uranium in nuclear reactors.
• Hey, did you know thorium is sometimes called the 'safer nuclear fuel'?
• The potential of thorium as a clean energy source is like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.