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Abstract
The influence of the martensite content on the impact properties of three through hardened Mn steels was investigated. When the maximum amount of martensite is 50%, impact properties are influenced by the martensite content through its effect on microhardness, according to the typical behaviour of a porous material having a tough microstructure. For higher amounts of martensite (up to 100%) a transition towards a brittle behaviour is observed. In this case, carbon content has a prevailing effect over the martensite content in determining the brittleness of materials. Steels with a medium low carbon content must be used to obtain a hardened but still deformable microstructure by through hardening and, when allowed by the actual cooling conditions, by sinterhardening.