ABSTRACT
Embrittlement may not be observed in a possible embrittlement couple because the solid metal is quite ductile at the liquid metal temperature such that a brittle crack cannot be initiated or propagated, or it is excessively soluble in the liquid metal which leads to the blunting of the crack. Cadmium (m.p. 329°C)- liquid indium (m.p. 165°C) is an example. In such cases, the embrittling liquid metal may be dissolved in an ''inert carrier'' liquid metal of lower melting point. Mercury does not embrittle cadmium; it dissolves indium up to 70 at. % at 25°C and has been utilized as inert carrier for indium to effect LME in solid cadmium. The variation in ductility of cadmium with varying indium content in mercury carrier is shown in Fig. 7.4.
