A change from the ductile to brittle type of fracture is promoted by a

decrease in temperature, an increase in the rate of loading, and the

presence of complex state of stress (for example, due to a notch). Under
the action of tensile stresses, most metallic materials are ductile, whereas
ceramics are mostly brittle, while polymers may exhibit both types of
fracture. Materials with BCC or HCP crystal structure can be expected to
experience brittle fracture under normal conditions, whereas materials
with FCC crystal structure are expected to experience ductile fracture.