"Cold short" is a term used in metallurgy to describe the tendency of certain metals to become brittle at low temperatures. The spelling of this term is based on the pronunciation of the words "cold" and "short" as they would be spoken in American English. In IPA phonetic transcription, "cold short" would be written as /kəʊld ʃɔːt/, with the "o" in "cold" pronounced as a long "oh" sound and the "a" in "short" pronounced as a short "ah" sound.
Cold short is a term used in metallurgy to describe a characteristic often observed in certain types of metal alloys, particularly steels, that renders them brittle and prone to fracturing when exposed to cold temperatures. This phenomenon occurs due to the presence of impurities, such as sulfur or phosphorus, in the metal composition.
When a metal is heated and then cooled rapidly, such as during the manufacturing process, these impurities can become concentrated in specific areas of the material known as grain boundaries. Grain boundaries are essentially the interfaces between the individual crystalline grains that make up the metal. The presence of impurities at these boundaries disrupts the bonding of atoms and weakens the overall structure.
At normal temperatures, the metal may still possess sufficient strength and ductility to resist deformations. However, when exposed to cold temperatures, the concentrated impurities cause a decrease in cohesion between the grains. This leads to localized areas of stress concentration, making the metal susceptible to catastrophic failure even under relatively low strain.
The term "cold short" is also used to describe the tendency of cold short metals to fracture under load in cold environments. This brittleness can be a significant concern in various applications, such as construction, where metals are exposed to low temperatures or subjected to sudden impacts. Proper alloy selection and processing techniques can help minimize the occurrence of cold short in metals, ensuring improved resistance to fracture and enhanced overall mechanical properties.
The term "cold short" is primarily used in metallurgy and refers to a material, usually a metal, that becomes brittle and prone to fracture when exposed to low temperatures. The etymology of the term can be broken down as follows:
1. Cold: The word "cold" is derived from the Old English word "cald", which has Germanic origins. It has remained relatively unchanged in its meaning of low temperature throughout the history of the English language.
2. Short: In this context, "short" refers to a material losing its ability to bend or deform without fracturing. The term originated from the Old English word "sceort", which has Germanic roots and meant "cut off" or "severed".
The combination of "cold" and "short" in metallurgy specifically refers to the brittle behavior of a material when exposed to low temperatures, often resulting in fractures or failures.