-- METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ZIRCONIUM TIN IRON ALLOYS FOR NUCLEAR FUEL RODS AND STRUCTURAL PARTS FOR HIGH BURNUP

摘要

The process for producing a nuclear fuel rod cladding tube is heated to a temperature in the beta region of greater than about 1000 ° C. by heating a zirconium alloy consisting of 0.3-1.8 wt% tin, 0.1-0.65 wt% iron, and nuclear grade zirconium with incidental impurities. beta quenching by rapidly quenching the billet at a temperature below α + β to an α transition temperature to form a martensite structure; Extruding the beta quenched billet at a temperature between 600 and 750 ° C. to form a hollow body; Annealing the hollow body by heating at a temperature of at least about 700 ° C .; Pilgering the annealed hollow body; The final anneal of the pilgered and annealed hollow body to a temperature of about 700 ° C. or more to form a Zr ₃ Fe second phase precipitate having a microstructure uniformly distributed in and between the mouth to form a radioactive second phase precipitate in the alloy substrate. Forming a nuclear fuel rod cladding tube comprising a containing zirconium alloy.