Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

Guirong Pan

John P Foster

Anand M Garde

Mats Dahlback

Robert J Comstock

Jonna Partezana Mundorff

Andrew Atwood

Andrew J Mueller

Michael A McClarren

Hsiang Ken Yueh

Penney File

James A Boshers

Dianna Lynn Svec Nuhfer

Ronald Kesterson

Terrence Cook

David Colburn

Anand Garde

Michael Mcclarren

Ken Yueh Hsiang

The invention relates to zirconium-based alloys and articles produced therefrom, such as tubing or strips, which have at least one of excellent corrosion resistance to water or steam and creep resistance at elevated temperatures in a nuclear reactor. The alloys include from about 0.2 to 1.5 weight percent niobium, from about 0.01 to 0.6 weight percent iron, from about 0.0 to 0.8 weight percent tin, from about 0.0 to 0.5 weight percent chromium, from about 0.0 to 0.3 weight percent copper, from about 0.0 to 0.3 weight percent vanadium, and from about 0.0 to 0.1 weight percent nickel with the balance at least 97 weight percent zirconium, including impurities. Further, the articles are formed by processes that include final heat treatment of (i) SRA or PRXA (0-33% RXA), or (ii) RXA or PRXA (80-100% RXA).

Zirconium alloys with improved corrosion/creep resistance

Articles, such as tubing or strips, which have excellent corrosion resistance to water or steam at elevated temperatures, are produced from alloys having 0.2 to 1.5 weight percent niobium, 0.01 to 0.6 weight percent iron, and optionally additional alloy elements selected from the group consisting of tin, chromium, copper, vanadium, and nickel with the balance at least 97 weight percent zirconium, including impurities, where a necessary final heat treatment includes one of i) a SRA or PRXA (15-20% RXA) final heat treatment, or ii) a PRXA (80-95% RXA) or RXA final heat treatment.

Zirconium alloys with improved corrosion/creep resistance due to final heat treatments

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Elgin, SC, United States of America

Guirong Pan