Resumen:
Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the structure of flakes in samples of large 40KhGM-steel forgings obtained under industrial and laboratory conditions. It has been established that manganese sulfide inclusions overwhelmingly serve as the flake nuclei. The data obtained suggest the existence of gaps between the sulfides and the matrix. Such gaps act as "hydrogen traps.". © Nauka/Interperiodica 2007.