Summary This paper describes an investigation of the correlation between HAZ microstructures amd mechanical properties in the post‐weld heat treatment (PWHT) of two types of thermomechanical control process steels (TMCP steels), especially the relationship between the stress relaxation behaviour and high‐temperature deformability. Simulated weld heat treatment was performed with a welding thermal cycle simulator at a maximum temperature of 1623 K. PWHT was performed at a heating rate of 55.6 K/ksec. The mechanical properties in the PWHT process were evaluated by rising‐temperature constant‐strain rate tests and rising‐temperature constant‐load tests. The effect of PWHT in reducing ductility is discussed from the perspective of the precipitation behaviour of intergranular and transgranular carbides and the associated deformability of the matrix in each HAZ structure. The results obtained may be summarised as follows: The results obtained during measurement of the stress relaxation behaviour in the rising‐t...