Embrittlement

Embrittlement is a loss of ductility of a material, making it brittle. Embrittlement is used for any phenomena where a hostile environment compromises a stressed material's mechanical performance. Various materials have different mechanisms of embrittlement. Due to these various mechanisms, embrittlement manifests in a variety of ways, from slow crack growth to a reduction of tensile ductility and toughness. Often, cyclical stresses or environments lead to embrittlement. Embrittlement is a loss of ductility of a material, making it brittle. Embrittlement is used for any phenomena where a hostile environment compromises a stressed material's mechanical performance. Various materials have different mechanisms of embrittlement. Due to these various mechanisms, embrittlement manifests in a variety of ways, from slow crack growth to a reduction of tensile ductility and toughness. Often, cyclical stresses or environments lead to embrittlement.