On effect of cold plastic deformation on inclination to brittle fracture of low-carbon steel

Cold plastic deformation increases the critical embrittlement temperature Tsub(cr) in direct proportion to the degree of deformation and also appreciably reduces expansion work Asub(e) and crack formation work Asub(f) in the ductile fracture temperature range. The decrease in Asub(e) and Asub(f) with increased Tsub(cr) is explained by the formation of initial rupture foci (submicroscopic and microscopic cracks) during preliminary application stress, and these greatly facilitate the development of a large crack in the ferrite matrix. (author)