Interaction between particle precipitation and creep behavior in the NI-base Alloy 617B: Microstructural observations and constitutive material model

The creep behavior of the Ni-base Alloy 617B was analyzed at 725 °C with the focus on microstructural changes during temperature and stress exposure. High resolution electron microscopy of crept specimens reveals the precipitation behavior of secondary phases such as Cr-rich M23C6-carbides and the γ'-phase. Physical models are used to describe the Ostwald coarsening of the γ' particles and the evolution of the yield strength of the alloy. Together with the results from hot tensile tests and hardness measurements, a constitutive model for Alloy 617B has been developed. This model takes account of precipitation strengthening which is consistent with the microstructural observations, internal back stress due to dislocation hardening and material damage, all by evolutionary equations.