Any thermodynamic and kinetic software would be useless if without databases of good quality; therefore, the developments and constructions of thermodynamic and kinetic databases have always been a highly-demanding and challenging task which requires expertise and experience.
Since the very beginning of developments of Thermo-Calc Classic and the DICTRA software, tremendous and endless efforts have been being put into the continuous developments of high-quality, internal-consistent, application-oriented and result-reliable thermodynamic and kinetic databases, through a great number of national and international collaboration projects. Furthermore, a powerful tool, namely the PARROT module, has been specifically developed for the purposes of data evaluations and critical assessments of thermodynamic/kinetic model parameters and for the establishments of various thermodynamic/kinetic databases, applying the well-known and widely-recognized Extended Calphad Approach in the field of Computational Thermodynamics and Kinetics. As a direct result, most of thermodynamic/kinetic databases currently available for materials R&D (which are used within the Thermo-Calc/DICTRA software, as well as within other software in the market) have been developed worldwide, using the PARROT module in Thermo-Calc Classic. The PARROT module in Thermo-Calc Classic has been become an important, basic and integrated module of both the Thermo-Calc Classic and DICTRA software. The PARROT module consists of a comprehensive subroutine package for data evaluation of thermodynamic and kinetic model parameters from experimental observations of quantities describing a set of equilibrium states or dynamic processes in various multicomponent heterogeneous interaction systems. The module is interactively connected with all other basic modules in the Thermo-Calc Classic and DICTRA software. The PARROT module makes use of the GES module (the Gibbs Energy System) to handle the models of the various phases that might form in a multicomponent system, as well as of the POLY module (the Equilibrium Calculation Module) to store and calculate complex heterogeneous equilibria. Before using the PARROT module in Thermo-Calc Classic, one should be familiar with the POLY module and also study the GES module, for details see the Thermo-Calc Classic Users Guide and Examples Book.
In the DICTRA software, the PARROT module also utilizes the DICTRA facility to store and simulate dynamic process properties in diffusion-controlled phase transformations; for details see the DICTRA User's Guide and DICTRA Examples Book. The objective of the PARROT module is to provide a unified set of subroutines to be used in critical assessment of various thermochemical and kinetic model parameters against available experimental and literature data. Advanced users of Thermo-Calc and DICTRA are highly encouraged to use this module in the courses of data assessment and database establishment. Similar to other modules implemented in the Thermo-Calc and DICTRA software, the PARROT module provides the users of application programs with a user interface with a set of simple and general commands for both data editing and parameter optimization. Through such a user interface, one can interactively enter and modify phase descriptions, model connections, basic thermodynamic parameters, and so on. Academic research at Universities can apply for a limited but free Demo version for assessment of thermodynamic data. For more information please consult the Thermo-Calc Users Guide and Litterature. |
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