The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 23, 1988
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1987
Charles S Cook, Murrysville Boro, PA (US);
George P Sabol, Murrysville, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A method of producing tubing composed of material, such as zirconium and alloys thereof, having a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure is provided which increases the radial texture or orientation of basal poles in the crystal structure of the material. The method includes intermediate and final stages. In the intermediate stage, multiple tubing reductions are performed, which each causes tubing wall thickness and diameter reduction and axial elongation, and a recrystallization anneal is performed following each of the tubing reductions. In the final stage, a last tubing reduction is performed, which causes tubing wall thickness and diameter reduction and axial elongation, and a final anneal is performed following the last tubing reduction. Also, in the intermediate stage, an expansion of the tubing diameter is performed following any one of the multiple tubing reductions and associated recrystallization anneals and then a recrystallization anneal is performed following the diameter expansion and before a next following tubing reduction in either of the intermediate and final stages of producing the tubing. The diameter expansion is an increase of from about five to twelve percent of the diameter of the tubing prior to the diameter expansion. The recrystallization anneal following the diameter expansion is at about 1250 degrees F. The tubing diameter expansion and recrystallization anneal result in enhanced texture of the finished tubing after completion of the final stage.