ZIRCONIUM ALLOY COMPOSITION FOR NUCLEAR FUEL CLADDING TUBE FORMING PROTECTIVE OXIDE FILM, ZIRCONIUM ALLOY NUCLEAR FUEL CLADDING TUBE MANUFACTURED USING THE COMPOSITION, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE ZIRCONIUM ALLOY NUCLEAR FUEL CLADDING TUBE

摘要

Disclosed herein is a zirconium alloy composition for nuclear fuel cladding tubes, comprising: 1.6˜2.0 wt % of Nb; 0.05˜0.14 wt % of Sn; 0.02˜0.2 wt % of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr and Cu; 0.09˜0.15 wt % of O; 0.008˜0.012 wt % of Si; and a balance of Zr, a nuclear fuel cladding tube comprising the zirconium alloy composition, and a method of manufacturing the nuclear fuel cladding tube. Since the nuclear fuel cladding tube made of the zirconium alloy composition can maintain excellent corrosion resistance by forming a protective oxide film thereon under the conditions of high-temperature and high-pressure cooling water and water vapor, it can be usefully used as a nuclear fuel cladding tube for light water reactors or heavy water reactors, thus improving the economical efficiency and safety of the use of nuclear fuel.