continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram

A Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) diagram shows how different steel microstructures develop as the metal cools at various speeds. It maps the temperature versus time during cooling, indicating which structures (like martensite, bainite, or pearlite) form depending on the cooling rate. Faster cooling tends to create harder, stronger structures, while slower cooling results in softer, more ductile one. This diagram helps engineers optimize heat treatments to achieve specific mechanical properties in steel components.