Introduction to the TQ-Interface
TQ-Interface is an application programming interface for Thermo‑Calc, a general software package for multicomponent phase equilibrium calculations. TQ-Interface is for application programmers to write programs using the Thermo‑Calc kernel. With this programming interface, it is easy to make Thermo‑Calc an integral part of application programs such as those for process simulation, microstructure evolution modeling and materials property prediction.
The thermodynamic properties and phase equilibrium data that can be obtained by using the TQ-Interface include Gibbs energy, enthalpy, entropy, heat capacity, first and second derivatives of Gibbs energy with respect to composition, chemical potential, phase amount, phase composition, partition coefficients, liquidus or solidus points, invariant temperature, heat of reaction, adiabatic combustion temperature, and volume, etc.
Through appending the mobility databases into the workspace, you can also obtain assessed mobility or diffusivity data via the TQ-Interface. The TQ-Interface can also be used to predict metastable or non-equilibrium states by changing the status of the phases under consideration.
The TQ-Interface is available for both Windows and Linux platforms. It is supplied in the form of DLLs (Dynamically Linked Libraries) meaning there is no need to recompile existing application programs when a new version of TQ-Interface is released.
TQ-Interface is written in FORTRAN as many software packages for scientific calculations are developed in this language. The Subroutines and Functions topic outlines categories of what is available in the TQ-Interface.
The computer language to implement application programs is not restricted to FORTRAN, for example a GUI application written in C++ can realize its various functionalities by using TQ-Interface subroutines with the appropriate calling conventions.