During early Bronze Age Mesopotamian axe production, which metallurgical mechanism caused brittle fracture during repeated impacts?

💡 Explanation

During repeated impacts, such as chopping wood, work hardening occurs because deformation increases dislocation density, impeding slip and causing brittleness leading to fracture. Therefore, work hardening causes brittle fracture, rather than embrittlement, leaching or segregation, which occur through different environmental or processing routes.

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