Hello,
This is just a simple question that has been on my mind for some time and this seems like the proper forum to ask.
In steel metallurgy, when a piece of metal crumbles into pieces during the forging process, we call it a "hot short". This is usually associated with intergranular failure at forging temperatures, commonly due to the presence of sulfur or other tramp elements. The term may very well be used in other contexts.
I have wondered about the root of the word "short" to describe brittleness. The only other example that comes to mind that is similar is the use of "short" when we are discussing bread, as in short bread, which crumbles in a similar fashion. No other examples come to mind.
Does anyone have any more definitive information on whether my intuition here is correct?
Thanks!
Stephen
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Stephen Rooney
R&D Metallurgist
Ellwood Materials Technologies
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