Thermo-Calc 2026b Release: New Features & 9 Databases

Thermo-Calc 2026b is now available, introducing significant enhancements to materials modeling workflows, including the revolutionary Property Navigator, 2.2x faster project loading, nine new databases, and expanded capabilities for additive manufacturing and precipitation simulation. This release represents a major step forward in computational materials engineering.

What’s New in Thermo-Calc 2026b: Key Highlights

1. Property Navigator: Revolutionary Simplified Property Model Selection

The most impactful feature in Thermo-Calc 2026b is the new Property Navigator, a step-by-step wizard that fundamentally changes how engineers configure Property Model calculations.

What It Does: The Property Navigator guides users through a four-step process:

Select your material category (steel, aluminum, nickel superalloys, titanium, noble metals, etc.)
Choose your processing route (casting, welding, additive manufacturing, isothermal treatment, quench & temper)
Specify target properties (hardness, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, Young’s modulus, stress-strain curves, etc.)
Let the software automatically select compatible Property Models and databases

Why This Matters: Previously, engineers had to manually search through available models to understand which properties were supported. Property Model selection errors were common, requiring trial-and-error iterations. The Navigator eliminates this guesswork entirely.

Availability:

Included in all Thermo-Calc 2026b installations (part of Property Model Calculator)
Supports General, Nickel, Titanium, and Noble Metal Alloy Models
Many Steel Model Library Models supported (except CCT/TTT diagram templates)
Optional: Purchase materials-specific Model Libraries for expanded coverage

2. 2.2x Faster Project Loading & Template Creation

Thermo-Calc 2026b delivers dramatic performance improvements for everyday workflows.

Performance Gains:

Average: 2.2x faster project loading than Thermo-Calc 2025b
Variation by type: Loading speed improvements range from 1.8x to 3.2x depending on calculation complexity

What Changed: The software now builds the entire project tree at the end of loading rather than adding nodes one-by-one. Users see a progress bar during the loading process, providing clear feedback instead of visual stuttering.

Impact: Engineers working with large simulation libraries or complex multi-calculation projects will see significant time savings, especially when creating new projects from templates or opening saved files.

3. Expanded Titanium Property Model with Flow Stress

The Alloy Strength – Ti model in the Titanium Model Library has been completely redesigned.

Expanded Capabilities:

Now predicts full flow stress behavior (not just hardness/yield strength)
Available properties: hardness, stress at arbitrary strain, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and more
New martensite formation option: accounts for α’ and α” martensite effects on hardness and flow stress
Users can specify quench temperature in addition to annealing temperature

New Example:

PM_Ti_03_Flow_stress_Ti_base_alloys demonstrates the expanded capabilities on Ti-6Al-4V and other compositions

Applications: Essential for titanium alloy development, aerospace applications, and heat-treatment optimization.

4. Additive Manufacturing Module: Composition Change Due to Evaporation

The AM Module now predicts volatile element evaporation during powder-bed and directed-energy deposition processes.

The Problem: During high-temperature laser or electron-beam additive manufacturing, volatile alloying elements (Al, Mg, Cr, Mo) may evaporate, deviating from specification. This causes:

Microstructure variations
Loss of strength and hardness
Altered ductility and tempering response
Corrosion resistance degradation
Final part quality inconsistency

The Solution: New “Evaporation with Steady-state” calculation type simulates multi-track and multi-layer builds, outputting:

Printed composition for each track
Average composition of final part
Evaporated gas composition

New Visualization:

Composition History tab for viewing results
Table export for data analysis
Three new plot quantities: printed composition and evaporated gas composition

New Examples:

GUI: AM_16_Composition_Change_Evaporation.tcu
TC-Python: pyex_AM_13_Composition_change.py

Industry Impact: Particularly relevant for high-temperature superalloys (IN939, IN625), aluminum alloys, and titanium systems in aerospace and power generation applications.

5. TC-Python: Dramatically Improved Property Model Setup

Property Model calculation setup in TC-Python has been revolutionized.

Previous Problems:

Developers had to use error-prone string arguments
Syntax was inconsistent and poorly documented
Valid argument values required running calculations twice or comparing with GUI mode

New Solution: New factory class: PropertyModelSelection

Eliminates string-based configuration
Provides IDE documentation popups
New “Property Model Definitions” directory includes:
- Arguments: Input definitions for each model
- ArgumentOptions: Valid choices for specific arguments
- Results: Available output values

Developer Experience: Configuration is now type-safe, IDE-compatible, and self-documenting. Example code snippets:

from tc_python import *

calculator = PropertyModelSelection.for_steel_strength()
  .with_processing_route("Quench_and_Temper")
  .with_properties("Hardness", "Yield_Strength", "UTS")
  .get_calculator()

New Examples:

pyex_PM_07_Property_model_Coarsening_Ni.py demonstrates the simplified setup

Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) Enhancements

Matrix Phase Switching During Simulation

New Feature: “Allow for matrix switch” option enables phase transformation during simulation.

Use Case: Steel heat-treatment simulations often involve structural transformations (austenite → ferrite → martensite). Precipitation may occur in different phases under different conditions. The new feature allows realistic modeling of multi-phase systems.

Switching Conditions:

Based on temperature threshold
Based on thermodynamic driving force
Custom switching logic support

New Example:

P_18_Tool_Steel_Matrix_Switch.tcu (runtime: ~30 minutes)

Applications: Critical for low-alloy steel, tool steel, and stainless steel development.

Nucleation on Existing Precipitate Particles

Engineers can now model precipitates nucleating on existing precipitate surfaces.

New Capabilities:

Inoculation simulations: Model dispersions acting as nucleation sites
GP zone transitions: Approximate meta-stable phase transitions (e.g., GP zones → θ’ → θ in Al alloys)
Complex phase sequences: Model multiple meta-stable phases (Al, Mg systems)
Co-precipitation: Model preferential nucleation (γ” on γ’ in Ni superalloys)

Validation: New model successfully predicts β”→β’ transition in Al-Si-Mg alloys against experimental data (Myhr et al. 2001).

New Examples:

GUI: P_17_Precipitation_Upon_Precipitate.tcu
TC-Python: pyex_P_17_Precipitation_Upon_Precipitate.py
TC-Python Method: .set_nucleation_upon_precipitates(precipitate1, site_per_particle, wetting_angle)

TQ-Interface Enhanced: Access to All Physical Properties

Major Update: TQ-Interface now available with GES6 (Gibbs Energy System 6).

What This Enables: Physical properties previously unavailable now accessible:

Surface tension
Elastic moduli (bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus)

Backward Compatibility:

Defaults to GES5 (previous behavior)
Opt-in GES6 with: TQSET_GES_VERSION(6)
Valid values: 5 or 6

Licensing News: TQ-Interface users on SUNLL licenses can now migrate to LicenseSpring (new user-credential system) for simplified management.

💬 Need a license or have questions? → Message us on Telegram — free consultation, usually reply within a few hours.

Nine New Databases + Four Updates

New Databases in 2026b

1. TCNI14: Nickel and Cobalt-based Superalloys

Renamed and significantly expanded scope.

Additions:

1 new element: Hydrogen (H) – now fully available beyond GAS phase
20 new phases including 16 hydrides (752 total phases)
21 new binary systems including H (392 total)
11 new ternary systems including 9 with H (444 total)
Updated thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity

New Applications:

Equilibrium H solubility calculations in superalloys
Lattice expansion due to H uptake
Predictions extended from Ni-based to Co-based superalloys

2. MOBNI7: Nickel-alloys Mobility Database

Kinetics database expanded.

Additions:

1 new element: Hydrogen (H) – 30 total
New/reassessed binary and ternary systems for FCC_A1 phase

New Applications:

Diffusion-controlled phase transformations involving hydrogen

3. TCAL11: Aluminium-based Alloys Database

Significantly expanded assessment coverage.

Additions:

4 new binary systems (317 total)
12 new ternary systems (135 total)
1 new quaternary system (15 total)
723 phases total
Elastic properties added for BCC (A2, B2), FCC (A1, L12), HCP (A3)
Updated thermophysical properties

New Applications:

Calculation of elastic constants and moduli in aluminum alloys

4. TCSALT3: Molten Salts Database

Expanded for clean energy and thermal storage applications.

Additions:

4 new elements: C, N, Nd, S (16 total)
1 new metal (cation): Neodymium (Nd)
4 new salt types (anions): Nitrate, Nitrite, Carbonate, Sulfate
107 new phases (284 total)
54 new pseudo-binary systems (132 total)
30 new pseudo-ternary systems (95 total)
82 new mixed systems (118 total)
Molar volume, surface tension, and viscosity for Nd and new salts

New Applications:

Heat transfer fluid thermodynamics (sulfates, carbonates, nitrates, nitrites)
Thermal energy storage systems
Neodymium extraction via molten salt electrolysis

5. TCCU7: Copper-based Alloys Database

New elements for high-performance copper systems.

Additions:

2 new elements: Sulfur (S), Tantalum (Ta) – 34 total
53 new phases (368 total)
26 new binary systems (175 total)
15 new ternary systems (79 total)
Molar volume, surface tension, viscosity for S and Ta
Updated thermophysical properties

New Applications:

S: Copper production process modeling, functional materials
Ta: High-temperature, high-performance Cu alloys for harsh environments

6. MOBCU6: Cu-alloys Mobility Database

New phases for brass and reactive diffusion.

Additions:

2 new elements: S, Ta (34 total)
6 new phases (9 total): BCC_A2, BCC_B2, HCP_A3, HCP_ZN, GAMMA_D82, GAMMA_D83
New/reassessed binary systems
Fe-Zn and Cu-Zn interaction parameters for GAMMA phases

New Applications:

Brass kinetics modeling (BCC phases)
Reactive diffusion simulations (GAMMA phases)

7. TCUHTM3: Ultra-high Temperature Materials Database

Expanded for MAX phases and refractory materials.

Additions:

5 new elements: Al, Cr, Nb, Ti, V (13 total)
120 new phases (167 total)
50 new binary systems (78 total)
59 new ternary systems (100 total)
Merged FCC_A1/FCC_B1 structures for improved solubility description
2 binary reassessments: B-Zr, Hf-N
Molar volume for new elements

New Applications:

MAX phases (211, 312, 413 types): Layered carbides/nitrides with metal and ceramic properties
Nb, Ti, V-based ultra-high temperature materials (borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides)

8. TCMG9: Magnesium-based Alloys Database

Redesigned for age-hardening simulations.

Additions:

27 new phases (602 total)
3 new binary systems (232 total)
14 new ternary systems (147 total)
Extensively revised Gd–Mg system for metastable phases
Critically reassessed Ca–Mg–Zn, Ce–Mg–Zn, Nd–Mg–Zn
Elastic properties for BCC (A2, B2), FCC (A1, L12), HCP (A3, DHCP)
Updated thermophysical properties

New Applications:

Age-hardening precipitation in Mg alloys with TC-PRISMA
Elastic constants and moduli calculations

9. TCHEA9: High Entropy Alloys Database

Heusler phase modeling breakthrough.

Additions:

Significant Heusler phase improvements:
- Remodeled from DFT-calculated formation energies
- 17 new phases (730 total)
- 86 new ternary systems (729 total)
- 49 binaries updated for full temperature range
- 167 ternaries updated with new phases, improved solubility, stability
- Updated thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of B

New Applications:

Complex multi-phase high entropy alloy designs
Temperature-dependent property predictions

Updated Databases

TCFE14.1 & TCFE15.1 (Free for 2026b maintenance subscribers)

Improved B-Cr-Fe-N system
Gas phase corrections
Se-containing binary viscosities
Thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity updates for B

TCMG8.1 (Free update)

BCC_B2 molar volume correction in Al-Fe-Ni system

TCOX15.1 (Free update)

Anorthite phase electrical resistivity updates
Liquid phase resistivity in Al-Ca-F and Al-Ca-F-O systems
B thermal conductivity updates

System Requirements & Licensing

Release Date: June 24, 2026
Version: 2026b
Backward Compatibility: Projects from 2025b and earlier open in 2026b
Database Migration: Automatic when upgrading
Maintenance & Support: Recommended for database updates and new features

Who Should Upgrade to Thermo-Calc 2026b?

Priority upgrades:

Materials engineers in additive manufacturing (evaporation modeling)
Superalloy developers (Co-based superalloys in TCNI14)
Steel heat-treaters (TC-PRISMA matrix switching)
Researchers in Al, Mg, Cu alloys (new elastic properties)
Python developers (simplified TC-Python API)
Molten salt and thermal energy storage specialists (TCSALT3 expansion)

Conclusion

Thermo-Calc 2026b represents a significant maturation of computational materials engineering. The Property Navigator democratizes complex Property Model selection, while nine new and updated databases expand applicability across aerospace, automotive, energy, and advanced materials sectors. For organizations using Thermo-Calc for production materials design, the 2.2x performance improvement alone justifies the upgrade.

The combination of improved user experience (Property Navigator, faster loading), expanded physics (matrix switching, precipitate nucleation, evaporation), and comprehensive database coverage makes 2026b a compelling upgrade for computational materials engineers worldwide.

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