Abstract
The fracture process of binary carbon steel castings was studied in relation to casting defects by optical and scanning electron microscopies. The first step in the fissuring process is formation and coalescence of microvoids around pearlite nodules and inclusions. Casting defects influences the fracture behavior of cast steel in a complex manner. Although micro-defects such as shrinkage considerably lower the elongation, they have little effect on tensile and yield strength. The formation of small dimples on the fracture surface in the vicinity of the defects is probably not so susceptible to these casting defects.
