embrittlement

American  

[em-brit-l-muhnt] / ɛmˈbrɪt l mənt /

noun

1. the act or process of becoming brittle, as steel from exposure to certain environments or heat treatment or because of the presence of impurities.

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Etymology

Origin of embrittlement

First recorded in 1915–20; embrittle + -ment

Example Sentences

"That indicates the mechanism changed from dehydration embrittlement to thermal runaway."

From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026

In the context of type 2 diabetes, these mechanisms are compromised, resulting in collagen embrittlement.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2024

According to the NRC, embrittlement occurs as a result of reactor operation when neutrons from the nuclear fuel irradiate the steel plates and welds used to construct the reactor vessel.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2023

In addition to its well-known health and environmental effects, mercury also damages industrial facilities through corrosion, such as embrittlement of aluminium heat exchangers, and it poisons catalysts.

From Newsweek

This so-called reactor embrittlement is potentially the most dangerous problem faced by aging atomic plants, because a crack in these walls could expose the highly radioactive reactor core.

From Time Magazine Archive