Thermo-Calc 2023a Available Now

Webinar on Thermo-Calc 2023a Release

Watch our release webinar to learn about the exciting new features and new databases included in Thermo-Calc 2023a. In this webinar, four of the developers who worked on the release will speak directly about these exciting new developments.

Introducing Dark Mode

We are excited to announce that Dark Mode is now available for the Graphical User Interface of Thermo-Calc. This much requested feature is available as a new Look and feel called FlatLaf Dark. Many users have expressed a desire for this feature as they find it is easier on their eyes and offers better visibility. Users can change to the new dark mode from the Tools > Options menu. From the General tab, select FlatLaf Dark.

Full Gas Descriptions in Major Databases

Full gas descriptions have been added to two databases in the 2023a release: 

• TCOX12: Metal Oxides Solutions Database 
• TCTI5: Ti/TiAl-based Alloys Database 

Over the past several years, we have been working to add full gas descriptions to all of our major databases, as listed below. This allows users to do several simulations without needing to append the gas description from other databases, such as SSUB, preventing complications and incompatibility issues. This was also done to prepare the databases for the coming Additive Manufacturing Module. 

Additional major databases that already had full gas descriptions prior to the 2023a release: 

• TCNI12: Nickel-based Superalloys Database
• TCCU5: Copper-based Alloys Database 
• TCZR1: Zr-based Alloys Database
• TCSLD4: Solder Alloy Solutions Database
• TCUHTM1: Ultra-high Temperature Materials Database
• TCHEA6: High Entropy Alloys Database
• TCMG6: Mg-based Alloys Database

Scheil Calculator Receives Several Improvements

The 2023a release includes several improvements to the Scheil Calculator. These were made in preparation for the coming Additive Manufacturing Module, but they also have applications to users working with multiphysics solidification simulations in general, where as-cast material properties are needed in the temperature range from room temperature up to evaporation temperature. 

New Evaluation Method for Many Scheil Properties

The way properties are evaluated in the Scheil Calculator has been improved for several properties in the 2023a release. The new evaluation method uses an “average” or “frozen-in” profile that considers all previous calculation steps for each step of the simulation. 

In previous versions, the solid properties at each step in a Scheil calculation only evaluated the part that was solidified at that step. The portion of the material that had already been solidified was not considered. This method works well for thermodynamic calculations and some properties calculations. However, several of the new properties that have been added to the software in recent years require this new method. Therefore, the method has been updated for those properties. 

Properties using the new method are:

• Thermal conductivity, resistivity, and diffusivity
• Electrical conductivity and resistivity
• Heat per mole/gram
• Apparent heat capacity per mole/gram
• Latent heat per mole/gram
• Density
• Molar volume
• Apparent volumetric thermal expansion coefficient

Additive Manufacturing Module Released in Closed Beta

An Additive Manufacturing Module is being released in closed beta for the 2023a release.

The module is primarily designed for modeling the powder bed fusion process in Additive Manufacturing. Special focus has been given to having a unified treatment of alloy dependent physical properties and process parameters. 

The module solves the multiphysics problem of a moving heat source that melts and solidifies metal powder. The multiphysics simulation involves thermal conduction, fluid flow, evaporation-, radiation- and convective- heat loss.

TC-PRISMA: Handles Smooth Transition from Para-equilibrium to Local Equilibrium

A new model has been added to the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA), the Para-equilibrium (PE) Automatic Growth Rate Model, or PE Automatic for short.

Tempering of martensite in steels induces the precipitation of cementite particles. The growth kinetics initially follows the Para-Equilibrium (PE) condition due to the fast diffusion of interstitial C. Gradually it transforms to the regular Local Equilibrium (LE) condition so that substitutional elements can reach equilibrium partitioning at the migrating interface. 

The PE Automatic model enables the smooth transition from Paraequilibrium growth rate model to Simplified growth rate model. The rate of transition process is dependent on the relative differences in diffusion between C and substitutional elements, as well as the differences in driving force between paraequilibrium and ortho-equilibrium.

A new example is available demonstrating this new feature: P_15_Precipitation_Fe-C-Mn_PE-OE_Precipitation_of_Cementite

A video is also available demonstrating the new example. 

Improvements to CCT and TTT Diagrams in Steel Model Library

Select Type of Carbide in Pearlite and Bainite

The CCT and TTT Diagram Property Models in the Steel Model Library now allow users to choose which type of carbide will be present in pearlite and bainite, respectively. Users can now choose between cementite, M7C3, and M23C6 to be the carbide in pearlite, and cementite or M7C3 to be the carbide in bainite. The software automatically detects the most-probable type of carbide and offers that as a default. 

Previously, only cementite was considered in pearlite and bainite and the models could not be used when another type of carbide formed as a constituent of pearlite or bainite. 

These new selections are particularly useful for steels with higher Cr contents.

Nine New Result Quantities

Nine new result quantities are added to the CCT and TTT Diagram Property Models in the Steel Model Library: 

• Austenite transformed 10%, Austenite transformed 90%, and Total ferrite+cementite finish (98%). For CCT these are both defined in time (t) and temperature (T), and for TTT as time (t) quantity only.
• Terminal fraction of ferrite, Terminal fraction of pearlite, Terminal fraction of bainite, Terminal fraction of martensite, Terminal fraction of total ferrite, and Terminal fraction of total ferrite+cementite. Terminal fractions are unit-free quantities.

Two examples have been updated to demonstrate these new result quantities:  

• PM_Fe_06_Fe-C-Mn-Si-Cr-V_TTT 
• PM_Fe_08_Fe-C-Mn-Si-Cr-V_CCT