Process for the production of zirconium alloy sheet metal having good resistance to nodular corrosion and to deformation under irradiation

摘要

A process for the fabrication of zirconium alloy sheet specifically intended for the manufacture of structural elements for boiling water reactors, which includes the following steps:P Pa) producing in a vacuum an ingot having the composition of the desired alloy;PPb) forging and hot rolling the ingot; P Pc) quenching of the blank thus obtained after reheating in the beta range;PPd) hot rolling after heating;P Pe) heat treatment in the alpha range;PPf) at least one cycle of cold rolling followed by a heat treating in the alpha range; and PPg) final cold rolling followed by subcritical annealing in the alpha range;PPwhere the hot rolling of the sheet after quenching from the beta range is carried out in an initial direction, then in a direction perpendicular to the initial direction.