The deformation behavior of cementite was studied using eutectoid steels with pearlitic and spheroidite structures and fine grained bulk cementite prepared by sintering the mechanically alloyed powders. Cementite lamellae in deformed pearlite exhibited inhomogeneous slip, thinning by deck-of-cards slip, homogeneous bending, fragmentation, cleavage fracture and cracking by shear bands. Complete dissolution of cementite lamellae and spheroidal cementite was also observed in specimens deformed at high strain rates. The polycrystalline bulk cementite is brittle and fractures within elastic limit when deformed below 573 K. However, large plastic deformation was observed when compressed at high temperatures (over 773 K) and low strain rates (10(-5) similar to 10(-3) s(-1)). The artificial pearlite was successfully fabricated by hot compression starting from the alternately stacked cementite and low carbon steel sheets.