In the workshop various ab initio approaches and thermodynamic/kinetic methods for the modelling of finite-temperature properties/processes and phase transitions will be discussed. In addition more empirical approaches, such as Calphad and Dictra, will be an important topic of the workshop. Key experts in these fields have been invited to give tutorial-like lectures on recent methodological advances and successful applications.
The aim of the meeting is the discussion of concepts and exchange of ideas for a combination of these approaches in order to describe engineering materials. A particular (but not exclusive) focus will be on iron, steel and metal alloys. The development of ab initio based thermodynamic tools will be crucial to meet the increasing demand in fabricating novel alloys with tailormade properties such as e.g. light-weight high-strength steels in the car industry.