2012

HEAT TREATMENT OF
STEELS

NADZMI S. SAYADI
METAL INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT CENTER (MIRDC)

September 18-22, 1995

the austenite will have transformed to martensite.

To analyze the curve, various cooling curves may be

superimposed on the TTT diagram (Fig. 17).

Cooling curve 1 shows a very slow cooling rate typical

of conventional annealing. The diagram indicates that material
will remain austenite for relatively long period of time.
Transformation will when the cooling curve crosses the
beginning of transformation at point a. The transformation
product at that temperature will be very coarse pearlite.
Transformation will continue until point b. since there is slight
difference in temperature between the beginning and end of the
transformation, there will be slight difference in the fineness of
pearlite formed at the beginning and at the end. The overall
product will be coarse pearlite with very low hardness. Below
the temperature of b the rate of the cooling will have no effect
on the microstructure or properties. The material may now be
cooled rapidly without any change occurring. This is of great
value to companies doing commercial annealing, since the
diagram indicates that