ZIRCONIUM ALLOY FOR USE IN AQUEOUS ENVIRONMENT SUBJECT TO HIGH FLUENCE, CORROSION-RESISTANT NUCLEAR REACTOR COMPONENT, STRUCTURAL NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY PARTS, AND NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ROD CLADDING CONSISTING OF THE ALLOY

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide one alloy which can improve the resistances of the nuclear reactor fuel rod cladding, nuclear fuel assembly parts, and core member of a light water reactor to uniform accelerated node-like corrosion in the reactor without jeopardizing the maintainability of fuel rods and other structural members when irradiated to high fluence in the reactor. SOLUTION: An alloy which is subject to high fluence of a water-moderated reactor and consists essentially of 0.5-3.25 wt.% niobium and 0.3-1.8 wt.% tin, with the balance of the alloy being nuclear grade zirconium containing incidental impurities and having a microstructure of beta niobium second phase precipitates uniformly distributed in and among crystal grains.