TMT Bars: Advantages and Applications

It wouldn’t be overemphasizing to say that TMT bars are the backbone of our daily lives. From the homes, we reside in to the office spaces we work at and flyovers and bridges we pass over while we commute- most of the modern structures gain their strength from TMT steel bars that are used in their construction. TMT bars lend robustness to a structure and reduces the costs involved in construction. 

What Is A TMT Bar And What Are Its Advantages?

TMT bar full form is thermo mechanically treated bars or TMT bars. These are manufactured using a technique that leaves them with a soft inner core and tough outer layer. This makes these bars extremely flexible and strong. Thermex technology is used for manufacturing the best quality TMT bars. This involves exposing the steel to high temperatures and pressing the steel billets thereafter through rolling mills to shape them. This is followed by cooling the billets quickly with the help of a process called quenching which involves spraying high-pressure water spray which cools the outside of the bars while leaving the inner core to follow a gradual cooling process on the cooling beds. This two-way cooling process makes the TMT bars possess a stronger outer layer and ductile inner core. 

Advantages of TMT Bars That Make Them a Popular Construction Material: 

1. High strength and ductility – The high strength possessed by TMT bars make them a perfect material to be used with concrete for improving the robustness of a structure. TMT bars have a unique ribbed pattern which improves their bonding capacity with concrete. Being highly ductile, they are also easy to work with. By making pre-welded meshes, overall construction time can be reduced significantly. 

2. Corrosion-resistant – The way TMT bars are manufactured lends them anti-rust properties. The water cooling phase that TMT bars go through prevents coarse carbides from forming, which are the main cause of corrosion in steel. This is the reason why structures made with TMT steel are more durable. 

3. Fire-resistant and earthquake-proof– Thanks to their high thermal stability, TMT bars can tolerate high temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 degrees Celsius. This protects the building against fires and maintains its structural integrity even during a fire. The soft core of TMT steel rods makes them highly ductile which helps them withstand seismic and dynamic loading. 

4. Cost-effective– Due to better elongation value and high tensile strength of TMT bars, lesser steel is utilized during construction. It also helps save costs on storage and transportation. 

Applicability of TMT bars –

· Residential projects

· Dams

· Long span bridges and flyovers

· Underground structures

· Highrise residential buildings

· Large structures such as Malls, Schools, Airports, Hospitals, etc.

· Underwater or marine structures

· Office / industrial structures

If you wish your construction structure to be robust, cost-effective, and durable, then TMT bars must be your default choice of steel. However, it is important to choose a well-known manufacturer such as JSW NeoSteel for producing the best quality TMT bars.