How to Cite Thermo-Calc Products

It can be difficult to know how to reference the tools used to calculate results that are to be published. Below are suggestions about how to reference Thermo-Calc products in a publication.

General Reference to Thermo-Calc and DICTRA (as of June 2016 DICTRA is also Referred to as the Diffusion Module):

Andersson J.O., Helander T., Höglund L., Shi P.F., and Sundman B., (2002). Thermo-Calc and DICTRA, Computational tools for materials science. Calphad, 26, 273-312.
It is also recommended to include the software version number, for example, Thermo-Calc version 2021b. Now that the Add-on Modules are included in the software, this is the only version citation required.

Specific References for the DICTRA Homogenization Model in Thermo-Calc:

Larsson, H., (2014). ‘A Model for 1D Multiphase Moving Phase Boundary Simulations under Local Equilibrium Conditions’, Calphad, 47, 1–8.
Larsson, Henrik, and Lars Höglund, (2009). ‘Multiphase Diffusion Simulations in 1D Using the DICTRA Homogenization Model’, Calphad, 33, 495–501.

For other Concepts and Add-on Modules it is Suggested You Reference the Documentation. For example:

Name of the guide + version number + (accessed date month year)

Examples:

The Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) User Guide 2021b (accessed 21 June 2021)
The TQ-Interface SDK Programmer Guide 2021b (accessed 21 June 2021)
Thermo-Calc Documentation Set, version 2021b (accessed 21 June 2021)

General Reference to Databases:

In text: Thermo-Calc Software + Database Name + version number
In a list of references: [number] Thermo-Calc Software [Database Name] version [number], (accessed date-month-year)

Examples:

In text:
- Thermo-Calc Software TCFE Steels/Fe-alloys database version 11, or
- Thermo-Calc Software TCFE11 Steels/Fe-alloys database
In a list of references:
- [number] Thermo-Calc Software TCFE Steels/Fe-alloys database version 11 (accessed 23 January 2021), or
- [number] Thermo-Calc Software TCFE11 Steels/Fe-alloys database (accessed 23 January 2021)

DICTRA and TC-PRISMA Renamed as Add-on Modules

The integration of TC-PRISMA into Thermo-Calc in 2016a has prompted a module-based approach to naming these powerful features that require Thermo-Calc as the core software.

In order to make it clearer as to how these two modules enhance Thermo-Calc, DICTRA has been renamed to the Diffusion Module (DICTRA). Although the DICTRA name is well-known and established in the literature, this module-based approach more clearly defines how DICTRA and Thermo-Calc work together.

The same concept applies to TC-PRISMA, which is now called the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA). It is particularly relevant to this Add-on Module because when you purchase a license for the Precipitation Module you get the Precipitation Calculator. The Precipitation Calculator is integrated into the Graphical Mode interface, which is part of the Thermo-Calc tree structure and calculation engines and not a standalone piece of software.

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How to Cite Thermo-Calc Products