TTT Diagrams

Thermo-Mechanical Time-Temperature-Transformation (TTT) diagrams are tools used in materials science to predict how steel and other alloys change their internal structure over time at various temperatures. They show the relationship between temperature, time, and the formation of different microstructures like martensite or pearlite. By understanding these diagrams, engineers can control heat treatments to achieve desired properties—such as hardness or toughness—by knowing how quickly certain phases will form during cooling or heating processes. Essentially, TTT diagrams guide the optimal timing and temperature for heat treatment to tailor a material’s characteristics.