TCAL: TCS Aluminium-based Alloys Database Revision History

Software release version 2025b (June 2025).

Binary Systems

• Improvements make it possible to get reasonable calculation results of Sn solubility in (Al). The descriptions involving Sn are improved in these systems:
  • Al-Sn, B-Sn, Bi-Sn, Cd-Sn, Cu-Sn, Mg-Sn, Mn-Sn, Ni-Sn, Pb-Sn, Sn-Sr, and Sn-Ti.

Ternary Systems

• New assessments for 3 ternaries are added to have a better understanding of grain refiners in processing of aluminum alloys:
  • Al-B-Ti, Al-Ti-Zr, and Al-B-Zr.
• The new assessment of Al-Cr-Fe plus the improvements in Al-Fe-Mn and Al-Cu-Fe are incorporated to facilitate investigations on aluminum recycling.
• The updated assessments of Al-Bi-Sn, Al-Mg-Sn, Al-Pb-Sn, and Al-Si-Sn, enhance the accuracy of calculations on Sn-containing alloys.

Other Updates

• For unary tin, the descriptions of FCC_A1 and HCP_A3 are updated to be consistent with the Scientific Group Thermodata Europe (SGTE) PURE database.
• AlB2_C32 phase is renamed to MB2_C32.
• Al9CO2 phase is merged into Al9M2 phase.
• The description of Ag-La is refined by suppressing the inverse liquid miscibility gap and the stable high temperature BCC_A2 phase.
• The ternary assessment of Mg-Mn-Ni is improved to give more reliable calculation results on invariant reactions and the liquidus projection. The chemistry of the ternary phase is updated to be Mg₃MnNi₂.

Thermophysical Properties

• Added viscosity, surface tension and THCD/ELRS descriptions for the above newly added systems.
• For unary yttrium, molar volume descriptions of HCP_A3, BCC_A2, FCC_A1 are corrected.
• For unary hafnium, thermal conductivity description of liquid phase is corrected.

Software release 2024b (June 2024)

• Thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of liquid Al were re-assessed.
• Electrical resistivity of liquid phase in Al-Si system was re-assessed.
• Surface tension parameters were updated for the systems Ag-Cu, Bi-Sn, Cu-Sn, and Ag-Cu-Sn.
• Viscosity parameters were updated for the systems Ag-Cu, Al-Sb, Al-Te, B-Bi, B-Mg, B-Pb, B-Sn, B-Sr, B-Zn, Bi-C, Bi-Fe, Bi-Mo, Bi-Nd, C-Ca, C-Pb, C-Sn, Cr-Pb, Mg-Sb, Mg-Sn, Mo-Pb, Mo-Sn, Nb-Pb, Pb-Ti, Pb-V, and Cu-Ti-Zr
• The FCC_A1 parameters were corrected in the Cu-Hf system.

Software release 2024a (December 2023/January 2024)

New Elements

• Four (4) new elements: Ba, Sb, Ta, and W (for a total of 48 elements).

New Systems

• 38 new binary systems are assessed: Ag-W, Al-Ba, Al-Sb, Al-Ta, Al-W, B-Nb, B-W, Ba-Be, Ba-Cr, Ba-Fe, Ba-Mn, Ba-Sc, Ba-Sr, Ba-V, C-W, Co-W, Cr-W, Cu-W, Cu-Y, Er-W, Fe-W, Ge-W, Hf-W, La-W, Li-Pb, Mg-Sb, Mn-W, Nb-W, Ni-W, Sc-W, Sc-Y, Si-W, Sn-W, Ta-Zn, Ti-W, V-W, W-Y, and W-Zr.
• 11 new ternary systems are assessed: Al-B-Nb, Al-C-Ti, Al-Cu-W, Al-Cu-Y, Al-Li-Pb, Al-Li-Zn, Al-Mg-Sb, Al-Mg-Sr, Al-Ni-Ti, Al-Sc-Y, and Al-Ta-Zn.

Other Updates

• Full Gas descriptions are added. There is a change to default settings. From this release, the GAS phase is restored by default when retrieving the data from the database. In order to reject it when it is not required for a calculation, you now have to manually reject it.
• Mn-Ni-Zn: descriptions of BCC_B2, EPSILON are updated in order to better account for the experimental data.

Surface Tension Re-assessed

• The surface tension was re-assessed based on the Redlich-Kister-Muggianu (R-K-M) sub-regular solution model.

Software release 2023a (December 2022/January 2023)

• Corrected an error in the molar volume of the B2 phase in the Al-Fe-Ni system.

Software release 2022a (December 2021/January 2022)

• Updates to the surface tension, viscosity, and volume data for liquid.
• All assessed binary systems now have the SURF/VISC parameters.
• Updates to electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of several solid phases (Al₂Cu, Al₆Mn, Al₉Fe₂Si₂ and Si) and liquid in several binaries (Ag-Al, Ag-Cu, Al-Cu, Al-Si, and Al-Zn), as well as molar volume and thermal expansivity of Pr.
• Modeling of the Y solubility in (Al).

Software release 2021b (June 2021)

New elements and systems:

• 5 new elements: Nd, Pr, S, Se and Te
• 8 new assessed binaries: Al-Nd, Al-Pr, Al-S, Al-Se, Al-Te, Bi-Mg, Mg-Sc and Si-Y
• 9 new assessed ternaries: Al-Bi-Mg, Al-Cu-Ti, Al-Mg-Sc, Al-Mg-Sn, Al-Mg-Zr, Al-Mn-Ti, Al-Si-Y, Bi-Mg-Sn and Mg-Sc-Si
• 2 new assessed quaternaries: Al-Bi-Mg-Sn and Al-Mg-Sc-Si
• Surface tension, viscosity and volume of liquid, and electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of some previously unassessed systems and some of the new systems have been modeled.

Other updates:

• Al-V and Al-Sc: the (Al) solvus is better described.
• Mg-Sn and H-Zn: new thermodynamic descriptions.
• Al-Li-Si: the ternary phases are refined to better account for their melting.
• Al-Ni-Si: the B2 description is refined.
• Al-Cr-Mg: Al18Mg3Cr2 (AL18MG3TM2) is refined.
• The partitioning ORD_L12 is removed. The compounds that it describes are merged into L12_FCC. This causes negligible changes in Al-Ce-Ni and Al-Mg-Ni, and triggers minor adjustments of Ag-Mg, Al-Ni, Fe-Ni, Ge-Ni, Mn-Ni, Ni-Si, Al-Cu-Ni, Al-Fe-Ni, Al-Mn-Ni, Al-Ni-Si, Al-Ni-Zn, Cu-Fe-Ni, Cu-Mn-Ni, Cu-Ni-Si, Fe-Mg-Ni, Fe-Mn-Ni, Mg-Mn-Ni, Fe-Ni-Si, Fe-Ni-Zn, Mg-Ni-Si, Mn-Ni-Si, Mn-Ni-Zn, and Ni-Si-Zn.
• ETA_PRIME, which is an important aging hardening precipitate, is refined in Al-Mg-Zn and Al-Cu-Mg-Zn.
• AL9FENI is identified as the metastable Al9Fe2 phase being stabilized by the Ni addition and thus renamed as Al9M2. The family of Al-Fe metastable phases is almost completely described.
• Thermophysical properties descriptions of many systems and for many phases are improved. These properties include viscosity and surface tension of liquid, molar volume, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity.

Software release 2021a (January 2021)

• Modeling of Mg-Si-Sn
• Update of Al-Mo
• Update of molar volume data
• Update of electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity data

Software release 2020b (June 2020)

New Thermophysical Properties

• Electrical resistivity is modeled for crystalline phases and liquid. The descriptions can be used for deriving electrical conductivity.
• Thermal conductivity is modeled for crystalline phases and liquid. The descriptions can be used for deriving thermal resistivity as well as thermal diffusivity (by combining with our density and heat capacity data).
• Viscosity and surface tension of liquid are modeled.

New Elements and Systems

• Added new minor-alloying elements: Nb, P and Y.
• Al-P, P-Si, P-Zn, Al-P-Si, and Al-P-Zn are modeled. The systems help to predict the formation of the ALP phase in aluminum alloys and to interpret its impacts on the microstructure modification.
• Al-Nb, as well as Nb-Ti and Al-Nb-Ti, is modeled for the minor-alloying element Nb.
• Al-Y, as well as Ti-Y and Al-Ti-Y, is modeled for the minor-alloying element Y.
• Six more Al-containing ternary systems are modeled, Al-C-Cr, Al-C-Mg, Al-C-V, Al-Cr-Mg, Al-Mg-Ti, and Al-Si-Sr, to make the Al-rich multi-component description more complete.

New Metastable Phase

• The semi-coherent version of the quaternary Q_ALCUMGSI phase is modeled as a metastable phase, QPRIME. It is expected to be used in precipitation simulations.

Updated Systems and Phases

• Al-C is updated taking into account the most recent modeling work.
• Si-Sr is updated and now reproduces the most recent modeling work.
• Al-C-Si is updated with the improved Al-C binary description.
• Al-Sc-Si is updated by modeling the Si solubility in the AL3X (Al3Sc-based) phase, which is a strengthening precipitate in some aluminum alloys
• Al-Fe-Mg-Si: the quaternary phase π-AL18FE2MG7SI10 is refined to make better predictions for solidification and lower-temperature heat treatments of related aluminum alloys.
• Al-Fe-Mn-Si is updated by modeling the Mn solubility in AL8FE2SI.
• Cr and Mo are introduced to the Al15Si2M4 (M = Cr, Fe, Mn and Mo) phase, which is of industrial importance in Al-Mn-Si and Al-Fe-Mn-Si based alloys.

Software release 2019a (December 2018).

• Added a new element Mo, the Al-Mo and Mo-Si binary systems, and the Al-Mo-Si ternary system
• FCC_A1 is now independently modeled and no longer coupled with FCC_L12. The FCC_L12 phase modeled with the partitioning model is now separated and named as ORD_L12.
• Updated the Al-Cu-Mg-Zn metastable precipitates of industrial importance: S_prime and T_prime are remodeled; S_DPrime is newly modeled; especially, the Eta_prime phase is remodeled by considering the Cu solubility.

Updates to the following systems:

• Al₆(Cu, Fe, Mn) remodeled in Al-Cu-Fe-Mn and treated as a metastable phase in Al-Cu-Fe
• Improved description of Al₇Cu₂Fe
• Updated Si-Ti and Al-Si-Ti
• Improved volume description

Software release version: 2017b (October 2017)

• This update highlights the assessment of 18 binary systems and 25 ternary systems relevant to the 8xxx and 8xx.x series of industrial aluminum alloys, including but not limited to Al-Ce, Al-Er, Al-Li, Al-Sc, and Al-Sn based alloys.
• The rare earth element Er, which may form the L12-type Al3Er stable precipitate in aluminum alloys, was newly added to the database. The Ag-Er, Al-Er, Cu-Er, Er-Fe, Er-Mg, Er-Si and Er-Zr binary systems and the Al-Cu-Er, Al-Er-Fe and Al-Er-Mg ternary systems were assessed.
• The Ce-Cr, Ce-Fe, Ce-Mg, Ce-Mn, Ce-Ni and Ce-Si binary systems and the Al-Ce-Cr, Al-Ce-Cu, Al-Ce-Fe, Al-Ce-Mg, Al-Ce-Mn, Al-Ce-Ni and Al-Ce-Si ternary systems were assessed.
• The L12 type metastable Al3Li (δ') phase, which is an important strengthening precipitate in some Li-containing aluminum alloys, was modeled. The Al-Li-Zr and Cu-Li-Mg systems were assessed.
• The Bi-Sn, Cd-Sn, In-Sn and Sn-Pb binary systems and the Al-Bi-Sn, Al-Cd-Sn, Al-Cr-Sn, Al-Cu-Sn, Al-In-Sn, Al-Sn-Pb, Al-Sn-Si and Al-Sn-Zn ternary systems were assessed.
• Sc-Ti, Al-Sc-Si, Al-Sc-Ti, Al-Sc-Zr and Al-Si-Ti were assessed. Ag-Cu was replaced and Ag-Al-Cu was assessed.

Software release version: 2015a (June 2015)

• The metastable Al-Cu precipitate Ω was modeled as the Al2Cu_OMEGA phase. In the Al-Cu-Mg-Zn system, the descriptions of the metastable precipitates ETA_PRIME (η') and T_PRIME (T') were refined. In the Al-Mg-Si system, the BETA_AL_DPRIME (Al-containing β'') phase was merged into BETA_DPRIME (β'') and treated as the same phase.
• 53 Ag-, H-, Hf-, K-, La-, Li-, Na- and/or Sc-containing binary systems were added, Ag-Cu, Ag-Fe, Ag-La, Ag-Li, Ag-Mg, Ag-Mn, Ag-Na, Ag-Ni, Ag-Si, Ag-Zn, Cu-H, Cu-Hf, Cu-La, Cu-Na, Fe-H, Fe-Hf, Fe-K, Fe-La, Fe-Li, Fe-Na, H-K, H-La, H-Li, H-Mg, H-Mn, H-Na, H-Ni, H-Zn, Hf-K, Hf-Li, Hf-Mg, Hf-Mn, Hf-Na, Hf-Ni, Hf-Sc, Hf-Si, K-Li, K-Mg, K-Na, K-Zn, La-Mn, La-Ni, La-Sc, La-Si, La-Zn, Li-Mn, Li-Na, Li-Sc, Li-Zn, Na-Sc, Na-Si, Na-Zn, and Sc-Zn. The previous Ag-Al binary description was replaced.
• HCP_ZN was merged into HCP_A3. Necessary adjustments were made for the descriptions of Zn-containing systems in order to reproduce the phase equilibria.
• Zr was introduced to Al3Ti_D022 and Ti to Al3Zr_D023. Al-Ti was updated in the Al-rich region. A preliminary assessment of the Al-Ti-Zr system was conducted. The description of Al4Mn_R in the Al-Fe-Mn system was refined.
• Molar volumes and thermal expansivities were evaluated for all the newly added phases and end-members. Some existing volume data were updated as well.

Software release version: 4.0 (June 2014)

• 19 binary systems were added, Ag-Ca, Ca-Cu, Ca-Fe, Ca-H, Ca-La, Ca-Li, Ca-Mn, Ca-Na, Ca-Ni, Ca-Sc, Ca-Si, Ca-Sr, Ca-Zn, Ag-Sc, Fe-Sc, Mn-Sc, Ni-Sc, Sc-Si and Sc-Zr.
• Modeling of Al-Cu metastable precipitates: GPI Zones (described as the miscibility gap of fcc_A1), q''-Al₃Cu (i.e. GPII Zones) and q'-Al₂Cu.
• Modeling of Al-Cu-Mg-Zn metastable phases: S'-Al₂CuMg, T'-Al_0.3Mg_0.4Zn_0.3 and η'-Al₃Mg_2.5Zn_3.5.
• Modeling of Al-Mg-Si metastable precipitates: b''-Mg₅Si₆ (GPII zones), Al-containing b''-Al₂Mg₅Si₄, b'-Mg₉Si₅, U1-Al₂MgSi₂, U2-Al₄Mg₄Si₄ and B'-Al₃Mg₉Si₇.
• Modeling of the metastable Al_mFe phase (modeled as Al₄Fe), which has been observed in some as-cast aluminum alloys such as AA1xxx, AA5128 and A206.
• Necessary volume data were assessed for the new phases and newly introduced end-members. The Sn-Zn and Cu-Fe-Ni descriptions were updated. Some known issues were solved.

Software release version: 3.1 (December 2013)

• The Al-Fe-Mn-Si quaternary description had been systematically refined, including a deep revision of the Al-Fe-Si description and adjustments of the Al-Fe-Mn and Al-Mn-Si descriptions. It has been validated that this refinement improved the phase formation in a wide range of casting and wrought aluminum alloys, since Fe, Mn and Si are the most common additives and/or impurities in aluminum alloys.
• A new Al-Ni description had been adopted and adjustments were subsequently made on the Al-Ni-based ternary systems.
• The BCC_B2 description in the Ni-Zn binary system was reassessed. The Al-Ni-Zn ternary was reassessed. The Al-Mn-Ni description was improved by solving some known issues.
• Both the Al-Cr and Al-V binary systems were improved in the Al-Rich corner. The Al-Si molar volume data were refined.

Software release version: 3.0 (2013).

• Since TCAL2, all necessary volume data (including molar volume and thermal expansion) had been added for most of the solution phases and intermetallic phases. This allows for the calculation of volume fraction of phases, as well as density, thermal expansivity and lattice parameters using Thermo‑Calc. However, it should be noted that the molar volume data incorporated has no pressure dependence.
• 21 more binary systems have been implemented: Al-Be, Al-Bi, Al-Cd, Al-Ce, Al-Co, Al-Ga, Al-In, Al-Pb, Bi-Cu, Cd-Cu, Ce-Cu, Co-Li, Cr-Li, Cu-Co, Cu-Ga, Cu-In, Cu-Pb, Cu-Sc, Li-Ni, Li-Si and Li-Zr. Some of them were reassessed in this project. Additionally, the Al-Ca and Al-Sc descriptions have been updated. The AlLi₂ phase was considered in Al-Li.
• The three ternary systems, Al-C-Si, Al-Cu-Sc, and Al-Li-Si, have been newly implemented. The previous provisional description of the Al-Cr-Si system has been replaced by a much more reliable description, which is derived from a thorough thermodynamic modeling over the entire compositional range and a wide temperature range. The Mn-Ni-Si description is also updated.

TCAL1.2 was updated in 2012.

• The Cu-Li, Li-Mg, Al-Cu-Li and Al-Li-Mg systems have been assessed and/or implemented in order to be able to predict the phase formation in Al-Cu-Li-Mg(-Zn) alloys (i.e. some of the 2xxx and 8xxx series alloys). The descriptions of the Al-Cu-Mg-Si and Al-Fe-Mn-Si core systems have been refined and validated, in order to give more accurate predictions for commercial Al-based alloys, including wrought alloys from series 2xxx to series 7xxx and foundry alloys series 3xx.x. The Al-Cr-Si system was tentatively assessed to include the Cr-bearing phase Al₁₃Cr₄Si₄.
• The two compounds, AL8FEMNSI2 and AL5CU2MN3, were removed from the database since their existences were disputed. The VSI2 phase was merged into CRSI2_C40, and the AB3_L12 phase into L12_FCC. Thermodynamic models were reviewed for most phases, and many un-assessed parameters were reasonably estimated. Some phases were renamed to use their conventional names.
• Additionally, the C-Mg binary description was reassessed. Now the two Mg carbides, MgC₂ and Mg₂C₃, are metastable and the C solubility in liquid Mg is greatly reduced to accord with the mostly published experimental data.

TCAL1 was released in 2011 and TCAL1.1 was updated in 2012.

• The description of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Fe core system has been systematically refined and validated in order to give more accurate predictions for commercial Al-based alloys, especially the 7xxx series alloys. More specifically, crucial corrections or modifications have been made for the following related ternary systems, Al-Cu-Fe, Al-Cu-Mg, Al-Cu-Zn, and Al-Mg-Zn.
• Another major enhancement is that users can now get the conventional phase names in Al-based alloys for a general name used in the database by using the command LIST_SYSTEM CONSTITUENT in the TDB module.