Brittlighet

Brittlighet refers to the tendency of a material to fracture or break with little or no plastic deformation. Materials exhibiting brittleness fail suddenly and catastrophically when subjected to stress, unlike ductile materials which can deform significantly before breaking. This lack of deformation means that the energy absorbed before fracture is relatively low.

Several factors can influence a material's brittleness. Temperature is a significant one; many materials that are ductile at room temperature can become brittle at lower temperatures. This phenomenon is known as a ductile-to-brittle transition. The presence of defects, such as cracks or voids, within a material can also promote brittle fracture by concentrating stress at these points. The rate at which a load is applied can also play a role, with faster loading rates often increasing the likelihood of brittle behavior.

Common examples of brittle materials include ceramics, glass, and cast iron. These materials are often hard and strong but lack toughness. Understanding brittleness is crucial in engineering and material science for selecting appropriate materials for specific applications and for designing structures that can withstand expected stresses without failure. Identifying and mitigating conditions that lead to brittle fracture, such as avoiding low-temperature operation or controlling defect populations, are key aspects of material design and failure analysis.