Investigation of the specific features of brittle fracture of carbon steel in various structural states using scanning electron microscopy of a slightly etched fracture surfaces

The technique and the results of studying slightly etched fracture surfaces of samples of carbon steel in structural states with a large fraction of carbides (pearlite, bainite, tempered martensite) are given. The technique presented made it possible to reveal, directly on the facets of brittle transcrystalline and intercrystalline fracture, elements of a microscopic and fine macroscopic structure that have undergone fracture.