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Copyright 1991 by ASME

Optimization of the Fatigue Properties

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

ABSTRACT
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 components 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 temperature sheet requirements for gas turbine applications and

compared these performance criteria to a number of sheet alloys

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 exposure at 649C (1200F) for 8000 hours was superior to INCOO alloy
HX and alloy 188. However, at 1050C (1922F) 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 760C
(1400F) and 871C (1600F) and sought to determine the primary
mechanism of deformation at each temperature. These authors also
reported stress controlled fatigue data at these same temperatures. Rao, et al., examined the influence of time and temperature 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 750C (1382F), 850C
(1562F) and 950C (1742F). 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

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.
Presented at the International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition
Orlando, FL June 3-6, 1991

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relatively large grain size, i.e., ASTM #3 grain size or larger. The
above authors tested the alloy in the as-received condition except
Burke and Beck who gave their material a solution anneal. The
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
molybdenum were increased to enhance grain size control.

mode, employing a symmetrical triangular strain wave cycle (f = 0.5

Hz). The fatigue testing apparatus was a Model 880 MTS closed
loop servohydraulic system. Test temperatures were achieved using
an electrically heated furnace mounted on the test stand. Axial
strain was measured and controlled by an axial gauge length
extensometer mounted on the test specimen.

.201/.199

.251 + . 002 Ream

-.000

1/2" R..010

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

The nominal compositions of the alloy 617 heats used in

this study are given in Table I. For comparative purposes, limited
tension-tension, axial stress controlled, low-cycle fatigue testing was
also done on alloy HX and alloy 230TM. The compositions of these
alloys are given in Table I.

Lon
.750 (Re
375
(Ref)
.853

+ .020
,400

.447

Table 1. Composition of The Alloys of This Study (Wt. %)

Alloy

Ni

Cr

Co

Mo

Al

Ti

Fe

La

2.000 .010

INCONEL alloy 617

XX005UK

Bal

21.9

12.2

8.9

1.4

0.2

1.0

0.10

XX0015UK

Bal

22.2

12.5

9.0

1.2

0.3

1.8

0.10

XX0023UK

Bal

22.2

12.6

9.1

1.5

0.3

1.2

0.06

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

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

XX0149UK

Bal

22.0

12.5

9.7

1.2

0.2

0.1

0.08

Z0846XG

Bal

21.4

1.6

9.3

0.2

17.8

0.06

Z0977XG

Bal

21.6

1.7

8.5

0.2

18.8

0.07

Z1151XK

Bal

21.5

1.5

8.5

0.2

19.6

0.07

Bal

22.0

2.0

14

0.3

0.10

0.02

INCO alloy HX

Haynes Alloy 230TM

3.000 .010
Dimensions in Inches

Figure 1. Schematic of.the Axial Strain Controlled

Sheet Specimen (maximum gauge thickness 0.100 ").

RESULTS

Because the reproducibility of LCF properties depends on

the consistency of grain size after the final anneal, the effect of the
carbon and molybdenum content of alloy 617 on grain size during
annealing at 1190C (2175F) for various times to 1.5 hours is
examined. The grain size data are shown in Figure 2 for selected
compositions given in Table I.

XX0105UK

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

strain controlled) was done using 4.75 mm (0.187 in.) cold rolled
and annealed [1177C (2150F)/5 min./WQ] sheet. Grain size was
varied, as noted below, by either lowering the annealing
temperature, extending the annealing time or by altering the
composition. The fatigue specimens were taken transversely to
the rolling direction of the sheet. Specimen blanks for the stress
controlled fatigue testing were ground to 170 mm (5.5 in.) x 12.5
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
in Figure 1. Grain size was determined metallographically from a
mount made from the gauge length of each specimen after testing using the phosphoric acid etchant described by Mankins, et al. (5 ).
The LCF tests were performed in air using both a
tension-tension axial stress control mode [test frequency (f) = 50 Hz]
and a fully reversed (strain ratio of R = -1) axial strain control

XX0120UK

-00

_0
XX0146UK

XX0149UK
XX0140UK

0.5

1
2
a

1.5

HOURS

Figure 2. Effect of Composition on Grain Size of alloy

617 Annealed for Varying Times at 1190C (2175F)

To vary the grain size of a nominal alloy 617, the annealing

conditions and composition were varied as presented in Table II.
Room temperature tensile properties are also given.

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Table II. Effect of Composition and Annealing Conditions on The

Grain Size and Room Temperature Tensile Properties of Alloy 617
Alloy 617
Heat No.

Annealing Condition
Temperature/Time
(min.)

ASTM 0.2%
G.S.
Y.S.
MPa
No.

XX0005UK'

1066C (1950F)/5/WQ

9.5

0.2%
Y.S.
Ksi

UTS
MPa

UTS El
Ksi

519.2

75.3

1015.6

147.3

35

XX0015UK 2

1177 0 C (2150F)/5/WQ

5.0

384.1

55.7

798.4

115.8

53

XX0023UK'

1163C (2125F)/5/WQ

2.5

288.2

41.8

752.2

109.1

65

XX0069UK 3

1177 0 C (2150 0 F)/5/WQ

2.5

339.2

49.2

724.7

105.1

64

XX0105UK ;

1163 C (2125F)/5/WQ

4.0

331.0

48.0

759.8

110.2

61

Table III presents tension-tension axial stress controlled

LCF data as a function of grain size for alloy 617 at 760C
(1400F). Table IV through VI and Figure 5 present the total strain
controlled mode data for alloy 617 at RT, 760C (1400F) and
871C (1600F).

Table Ill. Effect of Grain Size on The Tension-Tension Axial

Stress Controlled LCF Properties of Alloy 617 at 760C (1400F)
Tension-Tension
Axial Stress

Alloy 617
Annealing Condition ASTM G.S.
Heat Number Temperature/Time(min) Size No.

34.5-413.7 MPa (5-60

ksi) Cycles to Failure

XX0120UK 4

1177C (2150 0 F)/5/WQ

4.5

324.8

47.1

785.3

113.9

56

XX0140UK'

1182 0 C (2160F)15/WQ

5.5

377.2

54.7

800.5

116.1

55

XX0023UK'

1163C (2125 F)/5/WQ

2.5

XX0146UK'

1182 0 C (2160 0 F)/5/WQ

4.0

368.2

53.4

795.0

115.3

55

XX0015UK 2

1163C (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

1163C (2125 0 F)/5/WQ

9.5

93.440

'Low (>0.08%) carbon, low (> 9.3%) molybdenum

High (>0.08%) carbon, low (<9.3%) molybdenum
3 High (<0.08%) carbon, high (<9.3%) molybdenum

'High (>0.08%) carbon, high (>9.3%) molybdenum

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

Figure 3 presents the effect of tension-tension axial stress controlled LCF testing of alloy 617 at 593C (1100F) as a function
of grain size. For comparative purposes, as-received alloy 230TM
(ASTM grain size #5) data are also presented. No attempt was
made to vary the grain size of this alloy. However, the grain size
was varied through control of annealing conditions to yield alloy HX
with grain sizes of ASTM #5, 7 and 10. Their comparative 593C
(1100F) LCF results are presented in Figure 4.
170
160
1000
.

150

XXOOOSUK (1065C Anneal) G.S. = 9.5

140
120
120
110

800
Alloy 230TH (Mill Anneal) G.S. = 5.0

E
E

600
400

100

r"n

90

80
70
-

G.S. = 4.0
XX0069UK (1177C Anneal) G. S. = 2.5

40

30
105
CYCLES TO FAILURE

106

During LCF testing, cyclic deformation either hardens or

softens the test specimen until a saturation stress is reached. The
degree of hardening (or softening) at mid-life can be assessed
using the formula of Plumbridge et al( 5 ) as follows:
degree of hardening = AG/2 at mid-life - AG/2 at first cycle r x 100 (1)
1a/2 at first cycle
The degree of hardening for alloy 617 during LCF
testing has been determined at room temperature, 760C (1400F)
and 871C (1600F) for a number of total strain range conditions.
These results are presented in Tables IV through Table VI.
Table IV. Alloy 617 Low Cycle Fatigue Data Summary
Heat XX0140UK (ASTM Grain Size #5.5) - Room Temperature
Total Strain First Cycle
Range
At
Pct
MPa

60
50

200
10 3 104

500

107

Figure 3. Effect of Grain Size on the Tension-Tension Axial Stress

Controlled LCF Properties of Alloys 617 and 230TM (min. tension
stress = 34.5 MPa; max tension stress as shown).
Test Frequency = 50 H.

Mid Life
At
MPa

N;
Cycles

N,
Cycles

Degree of
N;,Nf Hardening
Pct

2.00

1046.7

1165.9

1,531

1,667

.92

11.4

1.00

892.9

982.5

10.808

13,326

.81

10.0

0.50

747.4

851.5

96.033

115,948

.83

13.9

0.40

684.0

784.7

409,674

425,911

.96

14.7

0.25

498.5

507.5

1.8

Removal at 1,020,300

Total Strain Controlled Axial Test Conditions: R = -1. Test Frequency = 0.5 Hz.
140
130
120 y^

Table V. Alloy 617 Low Cycle Fatigue Data Summary

Heat XX0140UK (ASTM Grain Size #5.5) - 760C (1400F)

110

100
90
80 E

E
E

70

60
50

10 0 10'

102

103

101

CYCLES TO FAILURE

105

106

Figure 4. Effect of Grain Size on the Tension-Tension Axial Stress

Controlled LCF Properties of HX (min. tension stress = 34.5 MPa;
max. tension stress as shown). Test Frequency = 50 H z .

Total Strain
Range
Pct

First Cycle
At
MPa

Mid Life
At
MPa

N,
Cycles

N1
Cycles

Degree of
N10N5 Hardening
Pct

1.0

590.9

842.6

648

2.671

.24

42.6

0.50

492.3

684.0

21,618

26,331

.82

38.9

0.45

496.4

676.4

49,844

50,244

.99

36.3

0.40

544.7

614.3

341,920

349,262

.99

12.8

0.30

446.8

485.4

8.6

Removal at 1,009.900

Total Strain Controlled Axial Test Conditions: R = -1. Test Frequency = 0.5 Hz.

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Table VI. Alloy 617 Low Cycle Fatigue Data Summary

Heat XX0140UK (ASTM Grain Size #5.5) - 871C (1600F)
Total Strain
Range
Pct

First Cycle

Mid Life

At

At

MPa

1.0

582.6
461.3
417.1
324.1

0.5
0.40

0.25

MPa

N;
Cycles

Nf
Cycles

651.6
497.8
435.8
324.1

520
2,593
6.714
133,334

964
3,348
8.002
141,126

Degree of
N;/Nf Hardening
Pet

.54
.77
.84
.94

11.8
7.9
4.5

Total Strain Controlled Axial Test Conditions: R = -1. Test Frequency =

2.5

S.

0.5 Hz.

= R.T. Test

0.0

760C
Test
A = 871C Test

Dashed lines are cycles

to crack initiation.
Solid lines are cycles to
rupture.

1.5

m
0.5
0

CYCLES TO FAILURE

Figure 5. Total Strain Controlled Axial LCF Properties of Alloy

617 at Room Temperature, 760C (1400F) and 871C (1600F).
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 microstructure and phase stability of alloy 617 for times to over 10,000
hours at temperatures from 649C (1200F) to 1093C (2000F).
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 649C (1200F) to 760C
(1400F). Most of the M23C6 carbide present in the alloy is
dissolved in one hour at 1177C (2150F) and, correspondingly, the
grain size is relatively large. Even after 215 hours at 1093C
(2000F) 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 1190C (2175F) are given in Figure 2
(alloys XX0105UK and XX0120UK) and the corresponding LCF
data (tension-tension axial stress controlled mode at 593C (1100F)
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 1177C (2150F) 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 1066C (1950F), 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
1177C (2150F) than M23C6. The effect of this change on grain

growth at 1190C (2175F) as function of time is given in Figure 2

(alloy 617 heats XX0140UK, XX0146UK and XX0149UK). The
corresponding ASTM grain size number is 4-5 for these heats when
routinely annealed at 1177C (2150F) for 5 min. and effectively
water quenched. The tension-tension axial stress controlled LCF
data at 593C (1100F) for alloy 617 containing 0.08% carbon,
9.3% or more molybdenum, and possessing an ASTM grain size
number of 4, is given in Figure 3. Note its close approach to the
data for alloy 230T 1 (ASTM grain size number of 5) suggesting
that at equal grain sizes both alloys have similar low cycle fatigue
responses. However, the effect of grain size on the LCF properties
of alloy 230TM was not examined in this paper.
To further investigate the role of grain size on the LCF
properties of alloy 617, heat XX0005UK was annealed for 15
minutes at 1066C (1950F) and water quenched to produce an
ASTM grain size number of 9.5. The tension-tension axial stress
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
size in Figure 4.
The role of grain size on tension-tension axial stress
controlled LCF at 760C (1400F) 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, 760C (1400F) and 871C
(1600F). 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 760C (1400F) and 871C
(1600F). 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 760C (1400F). This is likely due to work strengthening
associated with the cyclic deformation. At 871C (1600F) 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.

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(c)

At an ASTM grain size range of 4 to 5, alloy 617, alloy

HX and alloy 230TH have similar LCF properties at
593C (1100F).

(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 593C
(1100F) and 760C (1400F) 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, 760C (1400F) and 871C (1600F)
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 760C (1400F) and
high strain rates, where work strengthening may be
occurring.

REFERENCES

1.

2.

Burke, M. A. and Beck, C. G., "The High Temperature

Low Cycle Fatigue of Nickel Base Alloy IN-617," Met.
Trans., 15A, 1984, p. 661-70.

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.

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

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

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