Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.

Jeong Yong Park

Sang Yoon Park

Myung Ho Lee

Yong Hwan Jeong

Jong Hyuk Baek

Byoung Kwon Choi

Youn Ho Jung

Hyun Gil Kim

Jun Hwan Kim

Cheol Nam

Je Geon Bang

A high Fe-containing zirconium composition having excellent corrosion resistance and a preparation method thereof. Specifically, disclosed are a high Fe-containing zirconium composition having excellent corrosion resistance and a preparation method thereof, the composition comprising: 0.5-1.0 wt % iron; 0.25-0.5 wt % chromium; 0.06-0.18 wt % oxygen; at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.2-0.5 wt % tin, 0.1-0.3 wt % niobium and 0.05-0.3 wt % copper; and the balance of zirconium. The zirconium alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, and thus can be used as a material for nuclear fuel claddings, spacer grids and nuclear reactor core structures in light water reactor and heavy water reactor nuclear power plants.

High Fe contained zirconium alloy compositions having excellent corrosion resistance and preparation method thereof

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing zirconium-based alloys containing niobium with superior corrosion resistance for use in nuclear fuel rod claddings. The method of this invention comprises melting of the alloy, &#x3b2;-forging, &#x3b2;-quenching, hot-working, vacuum annealing, cold-working, intermediate annealing and final annealing, whereby the niobium concentration in the &#x3b1;-Zr matrix decreases from the supersaturation state to the equilibrium state to improve the corrosion resistance of the alloy. Such zirconium-based alloys containing niobium are usefully applied to nuclear fuel rod cladding of the cores in light water reactors and heavy water reactors.

Method for manufacturing zirconium-based alloys containing niobium for use in nuclear fuel rod cladding

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Daejeon, South Korea

Jeong Yong Park