Embrittlement of high strength steel components, like threaded fasteners, that have been plated with cadmium or zinc most often occurs due to the phenomenon known as Hydrogen Embrittlement. Hydrogen is produced in various processes (acid cleaning/pickling, electroplating baths) and absorbed into the steel. The hydrogen diffuses to areas of high tensile stress, which can then produce brittle failures at stresses considerably below the materials' yield or tensile strength.
Hot-dip galvanizing eliminates the hydrogen embrittlement concern, but Liquid Metal Embrittlement may still pose a problem. LME of ferritic steels has been reported in the temperature range of 400-620 C (750-1150 F). LME due to cadmium, which is a more potent embrittler than lead, tin, zinc, or indium, has been identified in the temperature range of 170-321 C (338-610 F).
Embrittlement of ferritic steels in contact with solid zinc has been reported (as delayed fracture) at temperatures ~ 400 C (750 F), which is just below the melting point of zinc.