INFORMATION
Brittle VS Ductile
When designing or testing a product,
you may ask questions like,
"Which material is safer?" or "Can it withstand impact?"
Glass shatters easily, while wire stretches for a long time before breaking.
The two most basic and important material properties that explain this difference are Brittleness and Ductility.
Today, we will easily explain the differences between these two material properties.
What is Brittleness?
A property where the material breaks suddenly without elongating.
Brittle materials hardly elongate when force is applied fr|om the outside,
and they are characterized by sudden fracture due to internal cracks.
Although these materials appear hard and strong, they are actually very weak against impact.
✅ Characteristics
1.Low elongation (barely stretches)
2.Sudden fracture
3.Poor energy absorption → easily breaks
4.Fracture surface is rough and sharp
✅ Typical examples
1.Glass
2.Ceramic
3.Concrete
4.Cast iron
When you drop a glass cup on the floor, it instantly shatters into pieces —
this is the typical behavior of a highly brittle material.
What is Ductility?
A property where the material stretches significantly and endures well before breaking.
Ductile materials elongate significantly when force is applied externally before breaking.
In other words, they can withstand a lot of deformation before breaking,
so they absorb energy well, are strong against impact,
and show necking (gradual narrowing) rather than sudden breakage when fractured.
✅ Characteristics Summary
1.High elongation (stretches well)
2.Gradual deformation and fracture
3.Good energy absorption
4.Fracture surface is smooth and stretched
✅ Typical examples
1.Copper
2.Aluminum
3.Mild steel
4.Gold
When you pull a wire or aluminum foil, it doesn’t break easily.
Instead, it stretches a lot before finally breaking.
This is the typical behavior of a ductile material.
Brittleness vs Ductility on a Stress-Strain Graph?
Factors that Affect Brittleness and Ductility
✅ Material composition
→ The more carbon in steel, the more brittle it becomes.
✅ Temperature
→ Most metals become more brittle as the temperature decreases.
✅ Defects and cracks
→ Even ductile materials can fracture in a brittle manner if they have microcracks.
✅ Processing condition (e.g., heat treatment)
→ Cold-worked metals often show reduced ductility and increased brittleness.
✅ Grain size
→ Finer grain size generally improves ductility in metals.
Checking Brittleness / Ductility with Salt's Universal Testing Machine
Salt Co., Ltd.'s ST-1000 Series Universal Testing Machine can precisely analyze these two properties.
✅ Provides accurate stress-strain graph
→ Records deformation in real time as load is applied to the specimen.
→ Brittle materials show short, steep graphs, while ductile materials show long, gradual graphs.
✅ Equipped with automatic measurement and analysis features
→ Key points such as yield point, maximum load point, and fracture point are automatically marked, making analysis easy.
✅ High-resolution load cell and extensometer options
→ Even small deformations can be measured precisely,
allowing detailed analysis of brittle materials like glass.
✅ Compatible with various specimens
→ Can test various materials such as metals, plastics, rubber, and composites.
→ To prevent deformation and ensure accurate test results,
Salt designs and manufactures custom grips optimized for the material's properties.
✅ Complies with international testing standards
→ Tests can be performed based on ASTM, ISO, and other global standards,
ensuring reliable and standardized results.
"We value our relationship with you more than just selling our products."
Contact Salt for more information!
Salt-s@Light-Salt.kr
www.light-salt.kr
25.07.18