Brittle Fracture

Separation of a solid with little or no macroscopic plastic deformation; fracture occurs by rapid crack propagation with less expenditure of energy than for ductile fracture; brittle tensile fractures have a bright, granular appearance and exhibit little or no necking; typical fracture mode of a glass or ceramic.

See also: Brittle Crack Propagation, Brittleness, Cleavage, Ductile Fracture.