Which property degradation occurred in Song Dynasty cast iron agricultural implements when silica content exceeded optimal rates within bloomery furnaces?

💡 Explanation

Accelerated graphitization embrittlement occurs because excess silica promoted formation of iron-silicon compounds within the cast iron’s microstructure, facilitating graphite precipitation and weakening the matrix; therefore graphitization increased susceptibility of these agricultural tools to fracture, rather than immediate ductility decrease.

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