Fig. 2 shows the USIBOR_ 1500P continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram with the measured cooling curves. As indicated by the CCT diagram, the blanks quenched at 45, 250 and 2200 _C/s should have a fully martensitic microstructure (indicated by an ‘‘M’’), while the blank quenched at 25 _C/s is expected to have bainite within its microstructure since the cooling curve intersected the nose of the CCT where bainite forms (indicated by a ‘‘B’’ in the figure).