The liquid metal embrittlement of a reactive system at room temperature: α-brasses in contact with the liquid eutectic Ga-In

We studied the liquid metal embrittlement (LME) at room temperature of α-brasses by the liquid eutectic Ga-In (EGaIn). The EGaIn partially wets the α-brasses and forms the CuGa2 intermetallic. 3-point bending tests, Finite Element Analysis, and in situ testing were conducted. When LME occurs, there is a ductile fracture followed by an intergranular brittle fracture that propagates through the zones with the highest plastic strain. The LME sensitivity increases with higher strain rates, higher Zn content, and higher work hardening rates, suggesting a significant role of dislocation mobility in LME and a lack of influence from the CuGa2 intermetallic.