Which property characterizes brittle metals in machining processes?

Brittle metals are characterized by their inability to undergo significant plastic deformation before fracturing. This means they do not easily bend or stretch under stress, leading them to break rather than deform when subjected to mechanical loads. In machining processes, this property is crucial because it impacts how the metal behaves when cutting tools apply pressure.

When machining brittle metals, operators must use techniques and tools that minimize the risk of breaking the material, such as controlling feed rates and cutting speeds. Conversely, other properties such as high ductility, producing smooth surface finishes, or absorbing shock are not characteristics of brittle metals. High ductility allows for more stretching and bending, smooth finishes depend on material behavior during cutting, and shock absorption is a property associated with ductile materials that can deform rather than break.