Similar to liquid metal embrittlement (LME), solid metal-induced embrittlement results in a decrease in fracture strength of a material. In addition, a decrease in tensile ductility over a temperature range is indicative of metal-induced embrittlement. Although SMIE is greatest just below the embrittler’s melting temperature, the range over which SMIE occurs ranges from  to T, where T is the melting temperature of the embrittler. The reduction in ductility is caused by formation and propagation of stable, subcritical intergranular cracks. SMIE produces both intergranular and transgranular fracture surfaces in otherwise ductile materials.