Abstract
Electromagnetic processing of materials is newly proposed to be considered as one of the engineering fields where functions of electromagnetism are utilized for processing electrically conducting materials, such as liquid metals, electrolytes and plasmas. The background requiring this processing, the engineering characteristics supporting it and details of the birth of electromagnetic processing of materials are described. The applicable functions of electromagnetism to material processing are revealed in the cases adopting direct magnetic field, high frequency alternating one and traveling one, respectively. The existing processes and the proposed ones are classified into utilized functions and engineering applications are discussed.
