Brittle
Brittle refers to a material or substance that is prone to breaking or shattering easily when subjected to stress, pressure, or force.
Brittle materials lack the ability to deform plastically before fracturing and often exhibit a tendency to snap or crack with little warning. This characteristic is attributed to the material's limited ability to absorb energy before undergoing failure.
During the calorization process, the formation of the too thick calorized layer can sometimes lead to brittle characteristics.
Specifically, the excessive thickness of the calorized layer may compromise the overall structural integrity, contributing to issues such as altered material properties, thermal stresses, and insufficient support, all of which increase the brittle characteristics of the treated metal.