To make brittle or prone to breaking; to cause something to become hard and easily fractured.
From 'em-' (to make or cause to be) plus 'brittle' (easily broken), from Middle English 'britel,' possibly from Old Norse. The term describes a process of degradation.
Materials scientists study embrittlement constantly—metals become embrittled in extreme cold (why steel fails in arctic temperatures) or through radiation (why nuclear reactor vessels need constant monitoring), making it a critical safety concern.
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