Zirconium alloy fuel cladding for operation in aggressive water chemistry

US9139895B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC · US

Inventors

• David W. White · Wilmington, US
• Daniel R. Lutz · San Jose, US
• Yang-Pi Lin · Wilmington, US
• John Schardt · Wilmington, US
• Gerald Potts · Wilmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 8, 2004
• Grant date: Sep 22, 2015
• Expiry date: Jul 31, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C22C16/00
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Disclosed herein are zirconium-based alloys and methods of fabricating nuclear reactor components, particularly fuel cladding tubes, from such alloys that exhibit improved corrosion resistance in aggressive coolant compositions. The fabrication steps include a late-stage β-treatment on the outer region of the tubes. The zirconium-based alloys will include between about 1.30 and 1.60 wt % tin; between about 0.06 and 0.15 wt % chromium; between about 0.16 and 0.24 wt % iron, and between 0.05 and 0.08 wt % nickel, with the total content of the iron, chromium and nickel comprising above about 0.31 wt % of the alloy and will be characterized by second phase precipitates having an average size typically less than about 40 nm. The final finished cladding will have a surface roughness of less than about 0.50 μm Ra and preferably less then about 0.10 μm Ra.