Nickel Alloy Inconel 617-SA (Solution annealed)
Heat-treated state · default condition
UNS N06617 · EN 2.4663, NiCr23Co12Mo
Standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar and tube; best creep and oxidation behaviour plus maximum ductility for forming and welding.
Values for the SA condition
Other Inconel 617 tempers and conditions
Inconel 617 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at Inconel 617.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled / hot finished and annealed | Heavy plate and forged/hot-rolled bar condition; slightly coarser grain and marginally lower strength than thin annealed product, preferred for creep service. | 310 | 730 | 55 | 165 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
SADefaultThis page Solution annealed | Standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar and tube; best creep and oxidation behaviour plus maximum ductility for forming and welding. | 330 | 760 | 58 | 173 HB | — |
laser powder-bed fused, HIP + solution annealed | Additively built combustor and heat-exchanger hardware; after HIP and solution anneal the properties approach wrought bar, but texture can leave mild anisotropy. | 340 | 750 | 45 | 180 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
Controlled-chemistry Alloy 617B for A-USC power plant | Tightened B, C, Al and Ti ranges plus controlled grain size to maximise 700 °C creep rupture strength for advanced ultra-supercritical boiler tubing and headers. | 350 | 780 | 50 | 180 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
Cold drawn and annealed bar / tube | Bright, close-tolerance bar and seamless tube with fine grain; use when dimensional accuracy and surface finish matter more than the very best creep life. | 360 | 790 | 52 | 185 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
As-welded deposit | All-weld-metal condition for matching filler; used as-welded without PWHT, with slightly lower ductility and toughness than wrought base metal. | 420 | 720 | 35 | 200 HB | 1.4 % IACS |
Cold worked | Cold-drawn wire or cold-rolled strip for springs, fasteners and mesh where high room-temperature strength is needed; recrystallises and softens above ~750 °C. | 900 | 1,100 | 12 | 32 HRC | 1.4 % IACS |
What is Inconel 617-SA?
Inconel 617-SA is Inconel 617 heat treated to SA — standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar and tube; best creep and oxidation behaviour plus maximum ductility for forming and welding. Inconel 617-SA has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 67% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 58% and the elastic modulus is 211 GPa (30.6 Msi). Inconel 617-SA has a density of 8.36 g/cm³ (0.302 lb/in³), heavier than 54% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,332°C (2,430 °F).
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 58%, better than 96% of nickel alloy grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 150 MPa·√m (136.5 ksi·√in), better than 93% of nickel alloy grades
- High service temperature — 1,100°C (2,012 °F), better than 88% of nickel alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 13.6 W/m·K (7.86 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of nickel alloy grades
Inconel 617-SA properties
Typical room-temperature values for Inconel 617-SA; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Inconel 617 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Inconel 617-SA has a density of 8.36 g/cm³ (0.302 lb/in³), heavier than 54% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,332°C (2,430 °F).
Mechanical14
Inconel 617-SA has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 67% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 58% and the elastic modulus is 211 GPa (30.6 Msi).
Thermal6
Inconel 617-SA is rated for continuous service to 1,100°C (2,012 °F). It conducts heat at 13.6 W/m·K (7.86 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 11.6 µm/m·K (6.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Inconel 617-SA conducts electricity at 1.4 % IACS, worse than 65% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), better than 61% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Inconel 617-SA takes about 190 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
Inconel 617-SA's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 61% of nickel alloy grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability good (65/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Inconel 617-SA
Is Inconel 617 easy to machine?
Machine like a tough Ni superalloy: rigid setup, positive-rake carbide or ceramic inserts, low speed (20–30 m/min carbide) with heavy feed and flood coolant, always cutting under the work-hardened layer.
Can Inconel 617 be welded?
Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with matching ERNiCrCoMo-1 filler, low heat input and interpass <150 °C; no PWHT normally required, but avoid prolonged 550–750 °C exposure that embrittles the HAZ.
Can Inconel 617 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well in the annealed state but needs roughly twice the force of stainless and frequent intermediate anneals at 1150–1200 °C; hot work between 1200 and 1000 °C.
What surface finishes work on Inconel 617?
Pickle in HF/HNO3 or grit blast plus passivate to remove the tenacious Cr/Al oxide before brazing, coating or bonding; not anodisable, mechanical polish or electropolish for hygienic surfaces.
Inconel 617 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cr | 20 – 24 | 22 |
| Co | 10 – 15 | 12.5 |
| Mo | 8 – 10 | 9 |
| Al | 0.8 – 1.5 | 1.2 |
| C | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Fe | ≤ 3 | 1 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.1 |
| Si | ≤ 1 | 0.2 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | 0.05 |
| B | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| Nibalance, 44.5 % min per ASTM B168 | ≥ 44.5 (balance) | — |
Inconel 617-SA — frequently asked
What is Inconel 617-SA used for?
Inconel 617-SA is typically used for gas turbine combustors, high-temperature reactors and aircraft engine ducting. In short: strongest solid-solution Ni-Cr alloy here; qualified for AUSC steam plant; hard to machine, high cost.
What is the yield strength of Inconel 617-SA?
Inconel 617-SA has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — weaker than 67% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Inconel 617-SA easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 61% of nickel alloy grades). Machine like a tough Ni superalloy: rigid setup, positive-rake carbide or ceramic inserts, low speed (20–30 m/min carbide) with heavy feed and flood coolant, always cutting under the work-hardened layer.
Can Inconel 617-SA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Readily welded by GTAW/GMAW/SMAW with matching ERNiCrCoMo-1 filler, low heat input and interpass <150 °C; no PWHT normally required, but avoid prolonged 550–750 °C exposure that embrittles the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on Inconel 617-SA?
Pickle in HF/HNO3 or grit blast plus passivate to remove the tenacious Cr/Al oxide before brazing, coating or bonding; not anodisable, mechanical polish or electropolish for hygienic surfaces.
Can Inconel 617-SA be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well in the annealed state but needs roughly twice the force of stainless and frequent intermediate anneals at 1150–1200 °C; hot work between 1200 and 1000 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of Inconel 617-SA?
Inconel 617-SA is rated for continuous use to about 1,100°C (2,012 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Inconel 617-SA and Inconel 617-CW?
SA is the default condition — standard stocked condition for plate, sheet, bar and tube; best creep and oxidation behaviour plus maximum ductility for forming and welding. CW: cold-drawn wire or cold-rolled strip for springs, fasteners and mesh where high room-temperature strength is needed; recrystallises and softens above ~750 °C. Yield strength is 330 MPa in SA versus 900 MPa in CW.
Sources
- ASTM B168 — Ni-Cr-Co-Mo Alloy Plate, Sheet and Strip (UNS N06617) — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B166 / B167 — Ni-Cr-Co-Mo Alloy Rod, Bar, Wire and Seamless Pipe & Tube — ASTM International (2019)
- INCONEL alloy 617 technical bulletin — Special Metals Corporation (2005)
- VDM Alloy 617 / 617B material data sheet No. 4019 — VDM Metals (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- AWS A5.14 ERNiCrCoMo-1 filler metal classification — American Welding Society (2018)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.
