TTT Diagrams (Time-Temperature-Transformation Diagrams)

TTT Diagrams, or Time-Temperature-Transformation Diagrams, are graphical tools used in materials science, particularly to understand how metals and alloys change structure when heated and then cooled. The diagram shows how different cooling rates affect the phases (or states) of a material, such as solid, liquid, or different crystalline structures. By knowing how temperature and time influence these transformations, engineers can design processes to achieve desired properties in materials for specific applications, enhancing strength, ductility, or hardness. Essentially, TTT diagrams help predict how a material will behave under varying conditions.