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Copyright © 1991 by ASME

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Optimization of the Fatigue Properties
of INCONEL Alloy 617
G. D. SMITH and D. H. YATES
Inco Alloys International, Inc.
Huntington, WV 25720

ABSTRACT compared these performance criteria to a number of sheet alloys

Rigorous control of the annealing practice and certain
alloying elements can directly influence key characteristics which
aid in optimizing low cycle fatigue (LCF) properties of
INCONELO alloy 617. These procedures favorably influence grain
size, carbide microstructure and mechanical properties. It is shown
how an optimum combination of these procedures can greatly
improve LCF properties of alloy 617 sheet.
INTRODUCTION
Alloy 617, developed in the early 1970s, is a wrought solid
solution nickel-base sheet alloy intended primarily for high
temperature, high strength applications. The alloy is particularly
used for combustor, transition ducting and exhaust system com-
ponents in aircraft and land-based gas turbine engines. Its use is
predicated on its high temperature strength and stability, its high
temperature corrosion resistance and, most importantly, on its LCF
resistance.
The applications for which the alloy were developed
have experienced progressively demanding requirements over the
years since product introduction. Correspondingly, this has
resulted in gradual improvement of alloy 617 to keep pace with
these demands. These property improvements were accomplished
through close customer contact, gradual tightening of
compositional and processing parameters and innovations in
manufacturing capabilities. This paper describes the series of
product and process improvements that have culminated in the
present alloy and its concomitant LCF properties.
BACKGROUND
Hicks(') in 1987 reviewed the then current high temper-
ature sheet requirements for gas turbine applications and
OHAYNES and HASTELLOY are registered trademarks of Haynes International, Inc.
OINCONEL, INCO and NIMONIC are registered trademarks of the Inco family of companies.
230TH is a trademark of Haynes International, Inc.
including alloy 617. He found the alloy to possess excellent high
temperature strength of the same order as HAYNESO alloy 188 with
oxidation resistance in high velocity exhaust gas streams superior
to that of alloy 188 and NIMONIC* alloy 86. Thermal stability as
measured by retention of room temperature ductility after expo-
sure at 649°C (1200°F) for 8000 hours was superior to INCOO alloy
HX and alloy 188. However, at 1050°C (1922°F) after times to
3000 hours, room temperature properties of alloy 617 were not
superior to alloy 86, alloy 188, alloy HX and HAYNESO alloy 230TM.
Hicks attributed the initial property deterioration of alloy 617 to
extensive grain boundary carbide coarsening with associated
dissolution of matrix carbides. In the latter stage of exposure, some
additional loss of room temperature properties was attributed to a
tendency of alloy 617 to be susceptible to oxidation fissuring of
surface grain boundaries.
In the mid 1980s, Burke and Beck ( 2) and Rao, et al ( 3 ),
examined LCF characteristics of alloy 617. Burke and Beck
obtained LCF data under fully reversed strain conditions at 760°C
(1400°F) and 871°C (1600°F) and sought to determine the primary
mechanism of deformation at each temperature. These authors also
reported stress controlled fatigue data at these same tempera-
tures. Rao, et al., examined the influence of time and tempera-
ture dependent processes on strain controlled LCF behavior of
alloy 617. These authors studied the influence of strain rate on
crack initiation and propagation modes at 750°C (1382°F), 850°C
(1562°F) and 950°C (1742°F). More recently, Srivastava and
Klarstrom ( 4) compared the LCF of production plate of alloy 617
with that of alloy 230TM and HASTELLOY® alloy X (INCO alloy
HX). The above authors examined alloy 617 at constant grain size
as determined by the prior processing history of their sample
material (either as-received or resolution annealed as in the case of
Burke and Beck). Their work was done on sample stock of

Presented at the International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition
Orlando, FL June 3-6, 1991
relatively large grain size, i.e., ASTM #3 grain size or larger. The mode, employing a symmetrical triangular strain wave cycle (f = 0.5
above authors tested the alloy in the as-received condition except Hz). The fatigue testing apparatus was a Model 880 MTS closed
Burke and Beck who gave their material a solution anneal. The loop servohydraulic system. Test temperatures were achieved using
an electrically heated furnace mounted on the test stand. Axial

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effect of grain size on the LCF behavior of alloy 617 sheet is the
subject of this paper as is the description of how carbon and strain was measured and controlled by an axial gauge length
molybdenum were increased to enhance grain size control. extensometer mounted on the test specimen.

.201/.199 .251 + . 002 Ream

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 1/2" R.±.010 -.000

The nominal compositions of the alloy 617 heats used in Lon

this study are given in Table I. For comparative purposes, limited
tension-tension, axial stress controlled, low-cycle fatigue testing was .750 (Re
also done on alloy HX and alloy 230TM. The compositions of these 375
alloys are given in Table I.
(Ref) + .020
.853 .447 ,400
Table 1. Composition of The Alloys of This Study (Wt. %)

Alloy Ni Cr Co Mo W Al Ti Fe C La 2.000 ± .010

INCONEL alloy 617
XX005UK Bal 21.9 12.2 8.9 - 1.4 0.2 1.0 0.10 - 3.000 ± .010
XX0015UK Bal 22.2 12.5 9.0 - 1.2 0.3 1.8 0.10 - Dimensions in Inches

1.5 1.2 0.06

Figure 1. Schematic of.the Axial Strain Controlled
XX0023UK Bal 22.2 12.6 9.1 - 0.3 -
Sheet Specimen (maximum gauge thickness 0.100 ").
XX0069UK Bal 22.0 12.5 9.1 - 1.3 0.3 2.1 0.06 -

X-XO105UK Bal 21.9 12.6 8.9 - 1.2 0.2 0.9 0.06 -

XX0120UK Bal 21.8 12.5 9.6 - 1.2 0.2 1.6 0.07 - RESULTS
XX0140UK Bal 22.2 12.7 9.8 11.3 0.3 1.6 0.08 -

XX0146UK Bal 21.6 12.5 9.6 - 1.2 0.2 0.5 0.08 - Because the reproducibility of LCF properties depends on
XX0149UK Bal 22.0 12.5 9.7 - 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.08 - the consistency of grain size after the final anneal, the effect of the
carbon and molybdenum content of alloy 617 on grain size during
INCO alloy HX
annealing at 1190°C (2175°F) for various times to 1.5 hours is
Z0846XG Bal 21.4 1.6 9.3 0.2 17.8 0.06
examined. The grain size data are shown in Figure 2 for selected
- - -

Z0977XG Bal 21.6 1.7 8.5 - 0.2 - 18.8 0.07 -

compositions given in Table I.
Z1151XK Bal 21.5 1.5 8.5 - 0.2 - 19.6 0.07 -

Haynes Alloy 230TM Bal 22.0 - 2.0 14 0.3 - - 0.10 0.02

XX0105UK

Most of the LCF testing (both tension-tension and axial XX0120UK

-00
strain controlled) was done using 4.75 mm (0.187 in.) cold rolled z
and annealed [1177°C (2150°F)/5 min./WQ] sheet. Grain size was
varied, as noted below, by either lowering the annealing E _0
temperature, extending the annealing time or by altering the XX0146UK
composition. The fatigue specimens were taken transversely to Z 1
the rolling direction of the sheet. Specimen blanks for the stress XX0149UK 2
controlled fatigue testing were ground to 170 mm (5.5 in.) x 12.5 XX0140UK a
mm (0.5 in) x 4.5 mm (0.175 in.) before a central gauge section of
12.5 mm (0.5 in.) x 7.6 mm (0.3 in.) x 4.5 mm (0.175 in.) was machined.
The axial strain controlled LCF specimens were machined as shown 0.5 1 1.5
HOURS
in Figure 1. Grain size was determined metallographically from a
mount made from the gauge length of each specimen after test- Figure 2. Effect of Composition on Grain Size of alloy
ing using the phosphoric acid etchant described by Mankins, et al. (5 ). 617 Annealed for Varying Times at 1190°C (2175°F)

The LCF tests were performed in air using both a To vary the grain size of a nominal alloy 617, the annealing
tension-tension axial stress control mode [test frequency (f) = 50 Hz] conditions and composition were varied as presented in Table II.
and a fully reversed (strain ratio of R = -1) axial strain control Room temperature tensile properties are also given.
 Table II. Effect of Composition and Annealing Conditions on The Table III presents tension-tension axial stress controlled
Grain Size and Room Temperature Tensile Properties of Alloy 617 LCF data as a function of grain size for alloy 617 at 760°C
Annealing Condition ASTM 0.2% 0.2% (1400°F). Table IV through VI and Figure 5 present the total strain
Alloy 617 Temperature/Time G.S. Y.S. Y.S. UTS UTS El controlled mode data for alloy 617 at RT, 760°C (1400°F) and
Heat No. (min.) No. MPa Ksi MPa Ksi

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871°C (1600°F).
XX0005UK' 1066°C (1950°F)/5/WQ 9.5 519.2 75.3 1015.6 147.3 35

XX0015UK 2 1177 0 C (2150°F)/5/WQ 5.0 384.1 55.7 798.4 115.8 53

Table Ill. Effect of Grain Size on The Tension-Tension Axial
XX0023UK' 1163°C (2125°F)/5/WQ 2.5 288.2 41.8 752.2 109.1 65 Stress Controlled LCF Properties of Alloy 617 at 760°C (1400°F)
XX0069UK 3 1177 0 C (2150 0 F)/5/WQ 2.5 339.2 49.2 724.7 105.1 64 Tension-Tension
Axial Stress
XX0105UK ; 1163 ° C (2125°F)/5/WQ 4.0 331.0 48.0 759.8 110.2 61
Alloy 617 Annealing Condition ASTM G.S. 34.5-413.7 MPa (5-60
XX0120UK 4 1177°C (2150 0 F)/5/WQ 4.5 324.8 47.1 785.3 113.9 56 Heat Number Temperature/Time(min) Size No. ksi) Cycles to Failure
XX0140UK' 1182 0 C (2160°F)15/WQ 5.5 377.2 54.7 800.5 116.1 55 XX0023UK' 1163°C (2125 ° F)/5/WQ 2.5 500
XX0146UK' 1182 0 C (2160 0 F)/5/WQ 4.0 368.2 53.4 795.0 115.3 55 XX0015UK 2 1163°C (2125 °F)/5/WQ 5.0 64.391
XX0149UK' 1182 0 C (2160 0 F)/5/WQ 4.5 388.8 56.4 810.2 117.5 53 XX0005UK 3 1163°C (2125 0 F)/5/WQ 9.5 93.440

'High (>0.08%) carbon, high (>9.3%) molybdenum 'Low (>0.08%) carbon, low (> 9.3%) molybdenum
2High (>0.08%) carbon, low (<9.%) molybdenum 2 High (>0.08%) carbon, low (<9.3%) molybdenum
'Low (< 0.08%) carbon, low (< 9.3%) molybdenum 3 High (<0.08%) carbon, high (<9.3%) molybdenum

'Low (< 0.08%) carbon, high (> 9.3%) molybdenum

During LCF testing, cyclic deformation either hardens or
Figure 3 presents the effect of tension-tension axial stress con- softens the test specimen until a saturation stress is reached. The
trolled LCF testing of alloy 617 at 593°C (1100°F) as a function degree of hardening (or softening) at mid-life can be assessed
of grain size. For comparative purposes, as-received alloy 230TM using the formula of Plumbridge et al( 5 ) as follows:
(ASTM grain size #5) data are also presented. No attempt was
made to vary the grain size of this alloy. However, the grain size degree of hardening = AG/2 at mid-life - AG/2 at first cycle r x 100 (1)
was varied through control of annealing conditions to yield alloy HX 1a/2 at first cycle
with grain sizes of ASTM #5, 7 and 10. Their comparative 593°C
(1100°F) LCF results are presented in Figure 4.
The degree of hardening for alloy 617 during LCF
170 testing has been determined at room temperature, 760°C (1400°F)
• 160 and 871°C (1600°F) for a number of total strain range conditions.
150
.
1000 XXOOOSUK (1065°C Anneal) G.S. = 9.5 140 These results are presented in Tables IV through Table VI.
a
120
800 120
110
Alloy 230TH (Mill Anneal) G.S. = 5.0 100 r"n Table IV. Alloy 617 Low Cycle Fatigue Data Summary
E 600 90 E Heat XX0140UK (ASTM Grain Size #5.5) - Room Temperature
E • 80
- 70 Total Strain First Cycle Mid Life Degree of
400 G.S. = 4.0 60 Range At At N; N, N;,Nf Hardening
XX0069UK (1177°C Anneal) G. S. = 2.5
50 Pct MPa MPa Cycles Cycles Pct
40
200 30
2.00 1046.7 1165.9 1,531 1,667 .92 11.4
10 3 104 105 106 107
CYCLES TO FAILURE 1.00 892.9 982.5 10.808 13,326 .81 10.0

Figure 3. Effect of Grain Size on the Tension-Tension Axial Stress 0.50 747.4 851.5 96.033 115,948 .83 13.9
Controlled LCF Properties of Alloys 617 and 230TM (min. tension 0.40 684.0 784.7 409,674 425,911 .96 14.7
stress = 34.5 MPa; max tension stress as shown).
Test Frequency = 50 H. 0.25 498.5 507.5 Removal at 1,020,300 - 1.8

Total Strain Controlled Axial Test Conditions: R = -1. Test Frequency = 0.5 Hz.
140
130
120 y^
E
110
Table V. Alloy 617 Low Cycle Fatigue Data Summary
100
Heat XX0140UK (ASTM Grain Size #5.5) - 760°C (1400°F)
E 90 Total Strain First Cycle Mid Life Degree of
E 80 E Range At At N, N1 N10N5 Hardening
70
Pct MPa MPa Cycles Cycles Pct
7
60 1.0 590.9 842.6 648 2.671 .24 42.6
50
0.50 492.3 684.0 21,618 26,331 .82 38.9
10 0 10' 102 103 101 105 106 0.45 496.4 676.4 49,844 50,244 .99 36.3
CYCLES TO FAILURE
0.40 544.7 614.3 341,920 349,262 .99 12.8
Figure 4. Effect of Grain Size on the Tension-Tension Axial Stress
Controlled LCF Properties of HX (min. tension stress = 34.5 MPa; 0.30 446.8 485.4 Removal at 1,009.900 - 8.6
max. tension stress as shown). Test Frequency = 50 H z .
Total Strain Controlled Axial Test Conditions: R = -1. Test Frequency = 0.5 Hz.
 Table VI. Alloy 617 Low Cycle Fatigue Data Summary growth at 1190°C (2175°F) as function of time is given in Figure 2
Heat XX0140UK (ASTM Grain Size #5.5) - 871°C (1600°F) (alloy 617 heats XX0140UK, XX0146UK and XX0149UK). The
Total Strain First Cycle Mid Life Degree of corresponding ASTM grain size number is 4-5 for these heats when
Range At At N; Nf N;/Nf Hardening routinely annealed at 1177°C (2150°F) for 5 min. and effectively
Pct MPa MPa Cycles Cycles Pet

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water quenched. The tension-tension axial stress controlled LCF
1.0 582.6 651.6 520 964 .54 11.8 data at 593°C (1100°F) for alloy 617 containing 0.08% carbon,
0.5 461.3 497.8 2,593 3,348 .77 7.9 9.3% or more molybdenum, and possessing an ASTM grain size
0.40 417.1 435.8 6.714 8.002 .84 4.5 number of 4, is given in Figure 3. Note its close approach to the
0.25 324.1 324.1 133,334 141,126 .94 0.0
data for alloy 230T 1 (ASTM grain size number of 5) suggesting
that at equal grain sizes both alloys have similar low cycle fatigue
Total Strain Controlled Axial Test Conditions: R = -1. Test Frequency = 0.5 Hz. responses. However, the effect of grain size on the LCF properties
of alloy 230TM was not examined in this paper.
2.5
■ = R.T. Test To further investigate the role of grain size on the LCF
2 • = 760°C Test properties of alloy 617, heat XX0005UK was annealed for 15
r A = 871°C Test
minutes at 1066°C (1950°F) and water quenched to produce an
S. 1.5 Dashed lines are cycles ASTM grain size number of 9.5. The tension-tension axial stress
to crack initiation.
G

Solid lines are cycles to
m rupture.
0.5
0 size in Figure 4.
4 5
CYCLES TO FAILURE
Figure 5. Total Strain Controlled Axial LCF Properties of Alloy
617 at Room Temperature, 760°C (1400°F) and 871°C (1600°F).
R = -1. total Frequency = 0.5 H.
DISCUSSION
In alloy 617, carbides serve two practical functions,
strengthen the alloy( 1) and act as an assist to controlling grain
size during annealing.( 2 ) Mankins, et al, ( 6 ) examined the micro-
structure and phase stability of alloy 617 for times to over 10,000
hours at temperatures from 649°C (1200°F) to 1093°C (2000°F).
These authors report that the carbide phase present in the alloy
after exposure at all test temperatures was M2006 carbide (where
M is principally chromium plus molybdenum). No MC or M6C
carbides were found and only a very small amount of gamma
prime (less than 1%) was found to form at 649°C (1200°F) to 760°C
(1400°F). Most of the M23C6 carbide present in the alloy is
dissolved in one hour at 1177°C (2150°F) and, correspondingly, the
grain size is relatively large. Even after 215 hours at 1093°C
(2000°F) under a creep stress of 7 MPa (1 ksi), relatively little
M23C6 was noted. Their alloy contained 0.07% carbon and 9.0%
molybednum. The grain growth characteristics of alloy 617 at these
nominal levels as-annealed at 1190°C (2175°F) are given in Figure 2
(alloys XX0105UK and XX0120UK) and the corresponding LCF
data (tension-tension axial stress controlled mode at 593°C (1100°F)
are depicted in Figure 3 and also for heat XX0069UK (ASTM grain
size #2).
Present manufacturing practice establishes a degree of alloy
grain size control for the most commonly specified annealing
temperature of 1177°C (2150°F) by slightly raising the carbon
content from 0.07% to 0.08% and the molybdenum content from
9.0% to a minimum of 9.3%. This results, when used in conjunction
with a penultimate anneal of 1066°C (1950°F), in the formation of 1 to
3% M6C (where M is principally molybdenum but to a lesser extent
chromium) which tends to be more resistant to dissolution at
1177°C (2150°F) than M23C6. The effect of this change on grain
controlled LCF data for this material is presented in Figure 3.
Clearly alloy 617 responds dramatically to changes in grain size.
Not all alloys have such a marked improvement in LCF life as a
function of decreasing grain size. For example, note the small
improvement of LCF properties of alloy HX with decreasing grain
The role of grain size on tension-tension axial stress
controlled LCF at 760°C (1400°F) for alloy 617 is given in Table
III where fatigue life in cycles is presented as a function of grain
size for a constant tension-tension condition of a maximum tension
of 413.7 MPa (60ksi) and a minimum stress of 34.5 MPa (5 ksi).
Again the marked improvement of low cycle fatigue properties with
decreasing grain size is evident. Because commercial product
must balance stress rupture properties (maximized at large grain
size) with LCF characteristics (maximized at small grain size),
ASTM grain size numbers of 4 to 5 are considered the optimum grain
sizes for many of alloy 617's gas turbine applications. Therefore,
using this grain size range, total strain controlled LCF data
were obtained at room temperature, 760°C (1400°F) and 871°C
(1600°F). See Tables IV through VI.
Figure 5 depicts the alloy 617 data of Tables IV through VI
for the cycles to first crack initiation (Ni) and the cycles to ultimate
failure (Nf) versus total strain range at the various temperatures
exhibits a very high ratio, on average, of Ni/Nf (only one data point
was less than 50% and the average of all eleven data points was
78.6%). There is a definite tendency for the Ni/Nf ratio to increase
with decreasing total strain range at 760°C (1400°F) and 871°C
(1600°F). Overall, the resistance of alloy 617 to crack initiation is
high over the temperature range tested. The degree of hardening
as defined by Equation (1) appears to peak at approximately 35 to
45% at 760°C (1400°F). This is likely due to work strengthening
associated with the cyclic deformation. At 871°C (1600°F) and the
lowest total strain range, the degree of hardening is zero suggesting
a balancing of work strengthening and softening reactions.
SUMMARY
(a) The LCF properties of alloy 617 are highly dependent on
grain size.
(b) The optimum grain size range for both LCF and high
temperature strength properties (although not reviewed
in this paper) is considered to be ASTM grain size
numbers 4 to 5.
(c) At an ASTM grain size range of 4 to 5, alloy 617, alloy 2. Burke, M. A. and Beck, C. G., "The High Temperature
HX and alloy 230TH have similar LCF properties at Low Cycle Fatigue of Nickel Base Alloy IN-617," Met.
593°C (1100°F). Trans., 15A, 1984, p. 661-70.

(d) At an ASTM grain size range of 9 to 10, alloy 617
exhibits minimally a two orders-of-magnitude
improvement in LCF properties at both 593°C
(1100°F) and 760°C (1400°F) over the LCF properties
of alloy 617 at an ASTM grain size range of 4 to 5.
(e) On the basis of eleven data points obtained at room
temperature, 760°C (1400°F) and 871°C (1600°F)
under total strain LCF conditions (R = -1), the
average number of cycles to crack initiation occurs in
the last quartile of the number of cycles to failure.
(f) For the temperature and total strain range tested,
alloy 617 exhibited only a modest degree of
hardening, although at the highest temperature and
lowest strain rate the degree of hardening was nil.
The degree of hardening peaks at 760°C (1400°F) and
high strain rates, where work strengthening may be
occurring.
REFERENCES
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3. Rao, K. B. S., Schiffers, H., Schuster, H. and Nickel, H.,
"Influence of Time and Temperature Dependent
Processes on Strain Controlled Low Cycle Fatigue
Behavior of Alloy 617," Met. Trans., 19A, 1988,
p.359-71.
4. Srivaetava, S. K. and Klarstrom, D. L., "The LCF
Behavior of Several Solid Solution Strengthened Alloys
Used in Gas Turbine Engines," in Proc. Conf. on Gas
Turbines, Brussels, June 11-14, 1990, American Society
of Mechanical Engineers, 90-GT-80.
5. Plumbridge, W. J., Dalski, M. E. and Castle, P J., "High
Strain Fatigue of A Type 316 Stainless Steel," Fatigue
Eng. Mat. Struct., 3, 1980, p. 177-188.
6. Mankins, W. L., Hosier, J. C. and Bassford, T. H.,
"Microstructure and Phase Stability of INCONEL alloy
617," Met. Trans., 5, 1974, p. 2579-90.

1. Hicks, B., "High Temperature Sheet Materials for Gas

Turbine Applications," Material Science and
Technology, 3, 1987, No. 9, p. 772-81.