To know more about the change of microstructure over temperature and time, a TTT

diagram that is time-temperature-transformation curve is needed. So the curve need for the
explanation is TTT diagram of carbon steel. TTT curve also known as S curve as the shape
of the graph look like the letter S. By referring to the TTT diagram below, begin with
temperature of 900oC. Above this temperature, austenite exists only for a eutectoid steel.
When the steel is cooled and held at temperature below 700 oC, transformation begin at this
stage but very slow. 1 hour of cooling is required before any significant amount of
transformation occurs, although eventually complete transformation occurs isothermally, and
the transformation product is spheroidite. Now look to the temperature of 650 oC. At this
temperature, the transformation begins in less than 1 minute, and the transformation product
is coarse pearlite. Next, look into temperature of 540 oC, transformation begins in
approximately 1 s and is completely transformed to fine pearlite in a matter of few minutes.
The line PfBf represents the completion of transformation and is generally parallel with P sBs.
However, if the steel is cooled very rapidly (such as immersing in water) so that there is not
sufficient time for transformation to begin in the 540 oC and rapid cooling is continued until
temperature of 275 oC. At this temperature, martensite is formed. M s is the temperature at
which martensite begins to form, and M f indicates the finish of transformation. Martensite is
not a phase instead of it is a specific microstructure in the ferrite phase. Martensite is formed
from the carbon atoms jamming the lattice of the austenitic atomic arrangement. Thus,
martensite can be considered as an aggregate of iron and cementite.

For the alloy steel parts, alloy has increase the stability of super cooled austenite and
retard both proeutectoid and the pearlitic reaction and then shift TTT curves of start to finish
to right or higher timing. This is due to the low rate of diffusion of alloying elements in
austenite as they are substitutional elements and reduced rate of diffusion of carbon as carbide
forming elements strongly hold them. The effect of alloying elements is less pronounced in
bainitic region as the diffusion of only carbon takes place in a very short time after
supersaturated ferrite formation by shear during bainitic transformation and there is no need
for redistribution of mostly substitutional alloying elements. Therefore bainitic region moves
less to higher timing in comparison to proeutectoid/pearlite region.