Answer
The two reasons why martensite is so hard and brittle are as follows:
1. there are relatively few operable slip systems for the body-centered tetragonal crystal structure
2. virtually all of the carbon is in solid solution which produces a solid-solution hardening effect.
Work Step by Step
The two reasons why martensite is so hard and brittle are as follows:
1. there are relatively few operable slip systems for the body-centered tetragonal crystal structure
2. virtually all of the carbon is in solid solution which produces a solid-solution hardening effect.