About the Thermo‑Calc Add-on Modules

Thermo-Calc Software offers several Add-on Modules that allow users to extend the functionality of the software in your area of specialization. All Add-on Modules are built into the Thermo-Calc platform, so there is no need for additional installation. This also creates a unified workflow and allows data to move seamlessly between the modules.

Go to the Add-On Modules page on our website for more information about license requirements, which is also mentioned throughout the documentation.

The help content has information and settings details about the Add-on Modules.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) Module

The Additive Manufacturing (AM) Module (also referred to as the AM Module) is an Add-on Module to Thermo-Calc and it is available in Graphical Mode as the AM Calculator. The aim of the Additive Manufacturing Module is to better understand the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process by predicting the temperature distribution and melt pool geometry as a function of process parameters and using material properties from the Thermo-Calc thermodynamic and properties databases. Special focus is to have a unified treatment of alloy-dependent material properties and process parameters when solving 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.

The Module can simulate the transition from conduction- to keyhole-mode. With experimental melt pool data you can calibrate the heat source. The calibrated heat source can be used to predict additional process conditions and/or to construct printability (aka process) maps.

Furthermore, once you have the temperature distribution, for instance as a function of time and space, you can also use this information for other Thermo-Calc Add-on-Module simulations such as with the Diffusion Module (DICTRA) or the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA), or for input to other external finite element programs.

Diffusion Module (DICTRA)

The Diffusion Module (DICTRA) is an Add-on Module to Thermo‑Calc. It is used for simulation of diffusion controlled transformations in multicomponent systems. The simulation calculations are both time- and space-dependent. The Diffusion Module (DICTRA) is available in both Graphical Mode (as the Diffusion Calculator) and Console Mode (as the DICTRA module).

The Diffusion Module (DICTRA), which is often just referred to as DICTRA, is ideally suited to solve diffusion simulations that include a moving boundary (Stefan problems). The multicomponent diffusion equations in the various regions of a material are solved under the assumption that thermodynamic equilibrium holds locally at all phase interfaces. Simulations are one-dimensional and three different geometries can be performed: planar, cylindrical, and spherical.

Examples of cases that have been simulated using the Diffusion Module (DICTRA) include:

  • Microsegregation during solidification
  • Homogenization of alloys
  • Growth/dissolution of carbides, nitrides and intermetallic phases
  • Coarsening of precipitate phases
  • Interdiffusion in compounds, e.g. coating systems
  • Austenite to ferrite transformations in steel
  • Carburization, nitriding and carbonitriding of high-temperature alloys and steels
  • Post weld heat treatment
  • Sintering of cemented-carbides

Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA)

The Precipitation Module, or TC‑PRISMA, is an Add-on Module to Thermo‑Calc and it is available in Graphical Mode as the Precipitation Calculator.

The Module treats concurrent nucleation, growth/dissolution and coarsening under arbitrary heat treatment conditions in multi-component and multi-phase systems using Langer-Schwartz theory and the Kampmann-Wagner numerical approach. It is a general computational tool for simulating kinetics of diffusion controlled multi-particle precipitation processes in multicomponent and multiphase alloy systems.

You can use the Precipitation Module for:

  • 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
  • Volume fraction and composition of precipitate
  • Nucleation rate and coarsening rate
  • Time-Temperature-Precipitation (TTP) diagrams
  • Continuous-Cooling-Transformation (CCT) diagrams
  • Estimation of multi-component interfacial energy
  • Estimation of yield stress using the Yield Strength Property Model

Process Metallurgy Module

The Process Metallurgy Module is an Add-on Module to Thermo‑Calc and it is available in Graphical Mode as the Process Metallurgy Calculator. The Add-on Module is designed to model reactions that occur in metallurgical processes. Although primarily used in steelmaking and steel refining processes—such as basic oxygen furnaces, electric arc furnaces, ladle furnace metallurgy, and so forth—applications are not limited to steelmaking.

There are two main branches of calculations possible: Equilibrium and Process simulation. Equilibrium calculations do not consider any kinetics, the process simulation includes reaction kinetics.

In general, for both types, the main difference compared to using a standard Equilibrium Calculator is that it is easy to handle the different materials present in a metallurgical process. The materials used in the process can be pre-defined, saved and used for the equilibrium calculations. Metallic materials can be defined in element weight percent, oxide materials in weight percent of oxide components, the gas phase in volume percent of gas components and its amount can be defined in normal cubic meters, and so forth. In principle this can be done in a standard Equilibrium Calculator. However, it is much easier when using the Process Metallurgy Calculator as this is designed for this specific purpose.

When using the Equilibrium branch of calculations, both isothermal and adiabatic calculations are possible. Adiabatic calculations assume no heat and mass exchange with the environment during the equilibrium reaction, meaning that the temperature changes as a result of exothermal or endothermal reactions taking place.

For a Process simulation branch of calculation, the reaction kinetics of the process are considered. This is done by dividing the system into zones. Typically one would have one steel zone containing liquid metal and a slag zone containing liquid oxide (slag). The kinetic model assumes that only a fraction of the steel zone reacts with a fraction of the slag zone per time step. This reacting fraction of the whole system is termed the reaction zone (in literature it has become known as Effective Equilibrium Reaction Zone or EERZ).

You can use the Process Metallurgy Module to calculate the following:

  • The equilibrium between custom-defined steels, slags, and gasses.
  • The equilibrium between other metallic and non-metallic phases.
  • Desulfurization, dephosphorization, and decarburization.
  • Any partition coefficient, for example the partitioning of sulfur between the liquid steel and slag phase.
  • Slag characteristics, such as slag basicity or sulfur capacity.
  • The fraction of liquid and solid in the slag.
  • The temperature change in an adiabatic process.
  • Kinetics of the reaction between phases. Typically this is the reaction between a liquid metal and slag phase, but it could also be the reaction between a solid oxide and slag (simulation of refractory wear) or between a solid metal and liquid metal (simulation of dissolution of alloy), etc.

Material Specific Property Model Libraries

There are specialized Property Models available for those working with specific materials such as steel, nickel, and titanium. The libraries, also sometimes referred to Add-on Modules, are available with the Property Model Calculator and the applicable database licenses.

  • The Nickel Model Library includes the following models specially designed for those working with nickel alloys: Antiphase Boundary Energy, Coarsening, Equilibrium with Freeze-in Temperature, Solvus for Ordered Phase, and Strain-Age Cracking.
  • The Noble Metal Alloys Model Library includes the Optical Properties Property Model.
  • The Steel Model Library includes the following models for those working in the steel industry: Bainite, CCT Diagram, Critical Transformation Temperatures, Ferrite, Martensite Fractions, Martensite Temperatures, Martensitic Steel Strength, Pearlite, and TTT Diagram.
  • The Titanium Model Library includes the following models specially designed for those working with titanium alloys: Alloy Strength and Martensite Temperatures.