Which one should you choose: TMT bars vs CTD bars

When it comes to construction, the choice of building material is perhaps the most important decision that one has to make. Building materials, be it anything- steel, concrete, wood, TMT bars or CTD Bars (cold twisted deformed bars), are entirely responsible for giving your structure strength, durability and safety.
However, the modern infrastructure demands something more agile and strong that can withstand heavier load without collapsing. Hence, building materials like steel, concrete and wood are getting replaced by advanced, high-reinforcement steel bars such as TMT bars and cold twisted deformed bars. When it comes to choosing between the two household owners, construction companies and even architects, designers often get confused and need clarification on which one is most suitable.
This article aims to delve deep into the differences between TMT and CTD bars. We’ll also explore the benefits and downsides of both.

TMT Bars and CTD Bars: Overview

What do you mean by Thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) bars

Thermo-mechanically treated bars are widely used in the construction sector. The manufacturing process involves rolling steel billets through a series of rollers with rapid heating and quenching. Depending on their yield strength, TMT bars can be categorized into different grades, such as: 

• Fe415
• Fe500
• Fe550
• Fe600

These bars have become one of the most prioritised and sought-after building materials by all stakeholders- household owners, builders, architects and designers in the construction industry. Highly suitable for the construction of key infrastructure such as flyovers, bridges, dams, residential and commercial skyscrapers and more. Their unique mechanical properties give them the edge over others in terms of strength, durability, ductility, corrosion resistance and weldability.

Special Characteristics of TMT Bars

• High strength: TMT bars exhibit superior tensile strength than all other reinforcement steel bars by a country mile. The bars are highly capable to withstand stress and extreme loads and are second to none, especially in high-rise construction works. These ultra-modern TMT bars are used for major construction projects as well as residential projects.
• High ductility: There is a reason why TMT bars are the only building material to thrive in seismic activity-prone areas. The high ductility facilitates bending without breaking, which is key to maintaining complete structural integrity in matters of environmental contingencies.
• Corrosion resistance: Known for being immune to moisture, these steel bars enhance the longevity of buildings because of being manufactured using corrosion-resistant raw materials such as copper and chromium. This also completely eliminates the maintenance cost in the long run, which in turn shields the environment from frequent repair and renovation work.
• Increased weldability: High weldability allows TMT bar manufacturers to weld them with other components of steel during the construction process. This not only fastens and eases project work, but also allows these modern building materials to be used in the building of several applications, especially the intricate ones.

What do you mean by Cold twisted deformed (CTD) bars

CTD bars are produced through a cold twisting process to ensure that deformations are induced. Unlike TMT bars, do not go through rapid heating and quenching procedures in blast furnaces. Though these bars have been used extensively in the construction industry for a number of years, they are considered an older technology than TMT bars which involve more advanced processes. These bars are primarily obtained through cold working rather than through adjustment in the properties of steel. Also known as Tor Steel, cold twisted deformed bars get their strength from the aforementioned cooling process, which turns the grains inside into crystals.

Difference between TMT and CTD bars:

Here are some of the characteristics of the reinforcement steel bars in comparison to the thermo-mechanically treated bars that we spoke of before:

• Strength: No reinforcement steel bar, including CTD, is equipped with a tensile strength that’s as high as that of TMT bars. Thus, CTD bars are not the safest option for stakeholders in the construction industry, especially in the cases of key industrial infrastructure, and residential and commercial skyscrapers.
• Limited ductility: The unique method of twisting the bars, which is responsible for the tensile strength of these bars, has a negative impact on their ductility. Thus, CTD bars are more prone to breaking under heavy loads. This is a major safety concern during construction.
• Susceptibility to corrosion: The cold twisting process that negatively impacts the ductility of CTD bars, also makes them susceptible to corrosion by breaking the protective blue oxide. This reduces their longevity and comprises the durability of the building concerned.
• Weldability: Comparatively less weldable to TMT bars, these bars might hinder the construction process. The cold twisting process makes these effective in terms of many spectrums, but weldability is not one of those.

Here is a quick comparison for your convenience:

Read also: TMT bars vs. Conventional steel bars: Which is better for your construction project?

Advantages of opting for UltraMax TMT bars by Adukia Industries

Thus, to make sure that you get your hands on the best building material for your dream project, staying informed about these differences is crucial. Although CTD bars have been extensively used for ages, TMT bars have now for a long time clearly overtaken them and established themselves as the go-to steel bar for all projects irrespective of the specifications involved.

If you are a resident of India and are looking to buy the best TMT bar in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam and more, then Adukia Industries have got you safely and completely covered with their UltraMax TMT bars. Employing state-of-the-art technology, we ensure that our UltraMax TMT bars go through thorough and stringent quality control at every stage of the manufacturing process.

Built to provide better longevity and sustainability than all other TMT bars, their bases are more robust than any reinforcement steel bar operating in the market. Guaranteeing almost zero maintenance requirements, UltraMax TMT bars are so strong, durable and corrosion-resistant that you will be spared from spending any money and effort on repair and renovation initiatives. This also ensures that the carbon footprint we leave on the planet is minimal.

Equivalent to 3 conventional TMT steel bars, UltraMax TMT bars don’t just dominate eastern India with their quality. Besides being the best TMT bar in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar, they also are abundantly present and effective across all other parts of the country.

Final Thoughts

From the above discussion, we can easily conclude that TMT bars are much more advanced and suitable than cold twisted bars. If you want your building to stand tall during rough weather for years, you should go for TMT bars. These come in different grades, so you don’t necessarily have to pick the most expensive ones. Understand your needs and build your dream project with the best construction materials.

Commonly Asked Questions

Are TMT bars better than CTD bars?

Yes, TMT bars are far better than CTD bars. The manufacturing process is much more advanced than CT bars, which makes TMT bars more durable and flexible.

Are cold-twisted deformed bars cheaper than TMT bars?

Yes, the price of CTD bars is lower than TMT bars. But if you consider the maintenance and longevity, then TMT bars are a more reasonable choice.

Can CTD bars withstand earthquakes?

If you want to build an earthquake-resistant building, ten CTD bars is not the ideal choice. Though these bars have good strength, their ductility is much lower, which can lead to collapse.