9. The “Unsinkable” Ship’s Missing Rivets: RMS Titanic
The RMS Titanic’s hull was constructed using approximately 3 million wrought iron rivets. Metallurgical analyses revealed that these rivets contained elevated levels of slag, making them more brittle, especially in cold temperatures. Upon collision with the iceberg, the brittle rivets failed, allowing water to flood the ship’s compartments. This structural weakness significantly contributed to the rapid sinking of the “unsinkable” ship. (nist.gov)
