What is the Difference Between Ductility and Brittleness?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Ductility and brittleness are two opposite properties that describe a material's response to external forces, such as tensile loading. The key differences between them are:
- Ductility: This is the ability of a solid material to plastically deform to a larger extent without fracturing. Ductile materials can be easily stretched into wires and show clear deformation under pressure. Examples of ductile materials include mild steel, tin, and aluminum.
- Brittleness: This is the tendency of a solid material to undergo negligible plastic deformation before fracturing. Brittle materials break rather than stretch and often fracture cleanly, so the material could be easily put back together because it does not deform before fracturing. Examples of brittle materials include glass, concrete, ceramics, stone, and gray cast iron.
Ductility and brittleness are highly temperature-dependent. For example, a brittle material can behave like a ductile one at an elevated temperature, and a ductile material at room temperature can become brittle when frozen. The ductility or brittleness of a material also depends on the inbuilt stress level. Under high residual stress, a ductile material may fail without noticeable plastic elongation.
Comparative Table: Ductility vs Brittleness
The main difference between ductility and brittleness lies in the way materials respond to external forces, particularly tensile stress. Here is a comparison table highlighting the key differences between ductile and brittle materials:
| Property | Ductile Materials | Brittle Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Deformation | Deforms under tensile stress, exhibiting plastic deformation before breaking | Breaks or fractures with little to no deformation |
| Tensile Strength | Lower than brittle materials | Higher than ductile materials |
| Energy Absorption | Can absorb more energy through plastic deformation, making them suitable for structures that see dynamic loads and impacts | Absorbs less energy, as fracture occurs without appreciable plastic deformation |
| Failure Mode | Fractures after significant plastic deformation, allowing for more predictable and safer failure | Fails suddenly with little deformation, posing risks for catastrophic consequences |
| Examples | Many metals, such as steel and aluminum | Ceramics, glass, and some polymers |
Ductile materials are more pliable and can be deformed without breaking, making them suitable for structures that experience dynamic loads and impacts. On the other hand, brittle materials are stiffer and exhibit sudden fracture without significant deformation, making them less suitable for such applications.
- Ductile vs Brittle Deformation
- Ductility vs Malleability
- Hardness vs Toughness
- Hardenability vs Hardness
- Ductile Iron vs Cast Iron
- Ductile Iron vs Cast Iron
- Plasticity vs elasticity
- Tensile Strength vs Yield Strength
- Modulus of Elasticity vs Modulus of Rigidity
- Young Modulus vs Tensile Strength
- Fracture vs Break
- Bainite vs Martensite
- Cleavage vs Fracture
- Hydrogen Embrittlement vs Stress Corrosion Cracking
- Resistance vs Resistivity
- Elastic Modulus vs Young’s Modulus
- Galvanized Pipe vs Ductile Cast Iron
- Dielectric Constant vs Dielectric Strength
- Tuff vs Tough