embrittlement
Loss of ductility
Embrittlement is the process by which a material—usually metal—becomes brittle and prone to cracking or fracture.
Various causes include hydrogen absorption, temperature extremes, or chemical exposure: hydrogen embrittlement weakened the steel bolts.
The term appears mostly in engineering and materials science contexts, describing degradation that makes once-flexible materials dangerously fragile.
Breaking without separating completely
- fractureSplit in hard material
- shatteringBreaking violently apart
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
- fissuresNarrow splits in material
rupture · delamination · spalling · cleavage · flaws · granulation · stress fracture · impact resistance
Process of declining quality
- weakeningBecoming less strong
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- wearCarry on person
- structural failureLoss of load-bearing capacity
service life · degradation · property loss · reliability · inspection · failure analysis
Chemical wearing away
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- hardeningBecoming less soft
- crystallizationForming ordered solid structure
precipitation · segregation · diffusion · aging · irradiation · nitriding · sensitization
cracking
Breaking without separating completely
- fractureSplit in hard material
- shatteringBreaking violently apart
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
fissures · rupture · delamination · spalling · cleavage · flaws · granulation · stress fracture · impact resistance · fragmentation
deterioration
Process of declining quality
structural failure · service life · degradation · property loss · reliability · inspection · failure analysis
corrosion
Chemical wearing away
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- hardeningBecoming less soft
crystallization · precipitation · segregation · diffusion · aging · irradiation · nitriding · sensitization
embrittlementtoughening
Making more resistant
plasticization · softening · annealing · tempering · stress relieving
embrittlementtoughening
Making more resistant
strengthening · hardening · reinforcement · fortification · tempering
brittle, brittleness, brittler, embrittle, embrittled, brittly