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Precipitation Simulations

Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA)

Model precipitation kinetics in multicomponent and multi-phase systems using the Add-on Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA).

About the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA)

The Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) is an Add-on Module that treats concurrent nucleation, growth/dissolution, and coarsening under arbitrary heat treatment conditions in multicomponent and multi-phase systems using Langer-Schwartz theory and the Kampmann-Wagner numerical approach. The Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) extends the functionality available in Thermo-Calc by allowing you to make calculations related to the precipitation of your materials.

TC-PRISMA-vol-frac-cem-m23c6-m7c3_fe-c-cr-system

A screenshot of the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) showing the results of a precipitation calculation of Cementite, M23C6, and M7C3 in a Fe-C-Cr system.

Questions the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) Can Help You Answer

The Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) is a relatively general tool for making precipitation simulations. As long as the fundamental model assumptions are met, it is primarily the access to thermodynamic and kinetic data that determines if a problem can be simulated or not. Some typical questions it can help you answer are:

  • How long will it take before a precipitate may form?
  • Which precipitate would form first, in other words, what is the sequence of precipitation?
  • How does precipitate size distribution vary with heat treatment?
  • What is the estimated yield strength of a material following certain treatment?
  • How do specific alloying elements influence precipitation kinetics?
  • How do the precipitates affect the grain growth?
  • How can stereological (2D sectional) considerations be better accounted for when comparing model predictions to experimental data?

The Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) Allows You to Calculate:

  • Concurrent nucleation, growth/dissolution, and coarsening of precipitates
  • Normal grain growth and Zener pinning
  • Temporal evolution of particle size distribution
  • Average particle radius and number density
  • Estimated yield strength of your material
  • Volume fraction and composition of precipitate
  • Nucleation rate and coarsening rate
  • Time-Temperature-Precipitation (TTP) diagrams
  • Continuous-Cooling-Transformation (CCT) diagrams
  • Estimation of multicomponent interfacial energy
  • 2D size distributions obtained from taking a cross section through a spherical 3D dispersion

Databases

The Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) requires a mobility database in addition to the standard thermodynamic and properties database that is used with Thermo-Calc. The mobility database contains information about the atomic mobility of individual components in relevant phases. Each mobility database is developed to correspond to a specific thermodynamic database.

Availability

The Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) is available as an add-on to a Thermo-Calc license. In order to run the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA), it is necessary to have a license for Thermo-Calc, at least one thermodynamic and properties database, and at least one mobility database. If you are interested in purchasing a license for this Module, please contact us to discuss which license is right for you.

Learn More about the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA)

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Simulations on Joining and Additive Manufacturing Processes for an ICME Framework

Coupling TQ-Interface with Precipitation Models for Gas Turbine Applications

Simulation of Multicomponent Precipitation Kinetics using TC-PRISMA

A collection of videos demonstrating the capabilities of the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA).

Modeling the precipitation processes and the formation of hierarchical microstructures in a single crystal high entropy superalloy

Modeling Precipitation Kinetics During Heat Treatment with Calphad-Based Tools

Study of nucleation, growth and coarsening of precipitates in a novel 9%Cr heat resistant steel: Experimental and modeling

Mean Field Modeling of Grain Growth and Zener Pinning

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