Blue Brittleness

blue brittleness

[¦blü ′brid·əl·nəs] (metallurgy) Loss of ductility noted for some steels when heated to 400-600°F (204-316°C), the blue heat range.

Blue Brittleness

 

in steelmaking, a lowering of plasticity in contraction and elongation with a simultaneous increase of strength; it is observed in low-carbon steels during deformation in the temperature range 200°–300°C (blue temper color) or during subsequent testing at room temperature. Blue brittleness is caused mainly by the interaction of nitrogen atoms with dislocations.