Cleavage-characteristic stress, S(CO), a new parameter relating to res
istance of cleavage fracture, was introduced to study the mechanism of
hot-straining embrittlement (HSE) of mild steel. It was concluded tha
t with hot strain aging, cleavage-characteristic stress S(CO) remains
unaffected and thus, the mechanism of hot-straining embrittlement lies
in the increase of yield strength due to hot strain aging effect.