I wasn’t aware of the rivet issue (had seen a previous issue on steel quality, with magnesium or manganese content being much higher, causing brittleness in cold water). It is fascinating, thanks
“And the bow, as fate would have it, is where the iceberg struck. Studies of the wreck show that six seams opened up in the ship’s bow plates. And the damage, Dr. Foecke noted, “ends close to where the rivets transition from iron to steel.””
The Carpathia was less than a day away (it arrived the afternoon after the ship had sunk, iirc), so the issue about time-to-sink is pertinent.
also, the California was within visual distance of the Titanic, but had its radio off overnight...so as morning came and the system was manned, it may have been relevant also.