TCNI14 Database: Nickel and Cobalt-based Superalloys with Hydrogen — What Changed in Thermo-Calc 2026b

The biggest single database change in the Thermo-Calc 2026b release isn’t a new feature in the main software — it’s a quiet but significant rename and scope expansion buried in the databases section: TCNI14 is no longer just a Nickel-based superalloys database. It has been renamed to the TCS Nickel and Cobalt-based Superalloys Database, gained full support for Cobalt-based superalloys, and — for the first time — added Hydrogen (H) as a fully modeled element.

If you work with superalloys for aerospace, gas turbines, or high-temperature structural applications, this is the database update in 2026b worth understanding in detail before you upgrade.

Why the Rename Matters

Database renames in the Thermo-Calc ecosystem are rare, and they only happen when the scope of the underlying thermodynamic and physical-property assessments genuinely outgrows the old name. TCNI14 crossed that line in 2026b.

Previously, TCNI-series databases (TCNI8 through TCNI14) were built and validated primarily around Ni-based superalloys — the IN-series, CMSX-series, and similar single-crystal and polycrystalline alloy families used in turbine blades, discs, and combustor hardware. Co-based superalloys were either unsupported or only partially covered through generic multicomponent assessments.

With 2026b, Thermo-Calc Software extended the same depth of assessment — phase transformation temperatures, γ′ and secondary phase volume fractions, partition coefficients, and physical properties — to experimental γ/γ′ Co-based superalloy systems. That’s not a minor add-on; it means TCNI14 can now be used as a primary design database for Co-based alloy development, not just a Ni-based tool with some Co tolerance.

Hydrogen (H): The New 31st Element

The headline technical addition is Hydrogen, bringing TCNI14’s total element count to 31. This is the first time H has been fully thermodynamically assessed across the nickel/cobalt superalloy composition space, rather than being limited to the gas phase only (its previous treatment in earlier TCNI versions).

What was added

• 20 new phases, including 16 hydrides — bringing the database to 752 total phases
• 21 new binary systems assessed with hydrogen included (392 binary systems total)
• 11 new ternary systems assessed, 9 of which include hydrogen (444 ternary systems total)
• Updated thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity data across the database

Why hydrogen matters for superalloys

Hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen-assisted cracking are long-standing concerns in high-temperature alloy design, particularly for components exposed to hydrogen-containing environments — combustion atmospheres, hydrogen storage and transport hardware, and next-generation hydrogen-fueled turbine systems. Until now, modeling H solubility and its interaction with the γ/γ′ microstructure required either external data or simplified assumptions.

With TCNI14, two new calculation capabilities become directly accessible:

1. Equilibrium hydrogen solubility in Ni- and Co-based superalloys — useful for assessing embrittlement risk under a given service environment.
2. Lattice expansion due to hydrogen uptake — relevant for residual stress and dimensional stability analysis in H-exposed components.

This positions TCNI14 as one of the more forward-looking databases in the 2026b release, anticipating the shift toward hydrogen-compatible turbine and structural materials as the energy sector moves toward lower-carbon combustion and hydrogen infrastructure.

TCNI14 at a Glance: Before vs. After

MOBNI7: The Companion Mobility Database Also Gets Hydrogen

It’s worth noting that MOBNI7, the kinetic/mobility counterpart to TCNI14, received a matching update — Hydrogen was added there too (30 total elements), along with new and reassessed binary/ternary systems for the FCC_A1 phase. This means hydrogen-related work in TCNI14 isn’t limited to equilibrium calculations: diffusion-controlled phase transformations involving hydrogen are now simulatable as well, which matters if you’re modeling time-dependent H pickup or outgassing rather than just equilibrium end-states.

Who Should Care About This Update

• Superalloy design engineers working on next-generation Co-based or Ni-Co hybrid alloy systems
• Aerospace and gas turbine OEMs evaluating long-term material performance in hydrogen-rich combustion environments
• Hydrogen infrastructure developers assessing structural alloys for storage, transport, or hydrogen-fueled turbine hardware
• Academic and national-lab researchers studying hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms in high-temperature alloys

If your work touches any of the above and you’re still running TCNI13 or an older TCNI14 build, this is one of the more consequential database upgrades to prioritize in the 2026b cycle — arguably more impactful for superalloy-focused users than the Property Navigator UI improvements, since it changes what you can actually calculate rather than how you set the calculation up.

How This Fits Into the Rest of the 2026b Release

TCNI14 is one of nine new and four updated databases shipped alongside Thermo-Calc 2026b’s broader feature set — including the new Property Navigator, 2.2x faster project loading, AM Module evaporation modeling, and TC-PRISMA precipitation improvements. For the full breakdown of everything else in this release, see our complete Thermo-Calc 2026b Release: New Features & 9 Databases overview.

💬 Have questions about which Thermo-Calc license tier includes TCNI14, or need a quote for a Maintenance & Support upgrade? → Message us on Telegram — free consultation, usually a reply within a few hours.

Licensing and Upgrade Notes

• TCNI14 is distributed as part of standard Thermo-Calc database licensing — availability depends on your existing database license tier.
• As with other 2026b databases, migration from prior TCNI versions is automatic when upgrading an existing installation with a current Maintenance & Support subscription.
• If you’re budgeting for a new license or renewal and want to estimate costs by version and user count, use our Thermo-Calc license price calculator for an instant estimate.

Conclusion

The TCNI14 rename to TCS Nickel and Cobalt-based Superalloys Database is easy to miss in a release dominated by UI improvements like the Property Navigator, but it’s arguably the most consequential change in 2026b for anyone working in high-temperature alloy development. Full Co-based superalloy support and a genuinely new capability — equilibrium hydrogen solubility and lattice expansion modeling — extend what TCNI14 can be used for well beyond its original Ni-centric scope, right as the industry’s interest in hydrogen-compatible high-temperature materials accelerates.

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