ZIRCONIUM-BASED MATERIAL, ARTICLE MADE OF THE SAID MATERIAL FOR USE IN THE ACTIVE ZONES OF ATOMIC REACTORS, AND A PROCESS FOR OBTAINING SUCH ARTICLES

摘要

The zirconium-based material proposed according to the present invention contains the following components (proportions are given in wt %): niobium 0.5 to 1.5; tin 0.9 to 1.5; iron 0.3 to 0.6; chromium 0.005 to 0.2; carbon 0.005 to 0.04; oxygen 0.05 to 0.15; silicon 0.005 to 0.15; zirconium accounting for the remainder. The proposed article made from the said material for use in the active zones of atomic reactors has a microstructure formed by the zirconium matrix reinforced by particles of tin- and iron-containing intermetallic compounds, at least 60 % by volume of the total quantity of the iron-containing intermetallic compounds consisting of intermetallic particles of the type Zr(Nb,Fe)2, Zr(Fe,Cr,Nb), and (ZrNb)3Fe. The distance between particles is 0.20 to 0.40 mu m. The process for producing the above mentioned articles involves producing an ingot, preliminary beta-treatment thereof, production of a blank by hot forming the ingot at the temperature at which alpha-zirconium exists, annealing the blank at a temperature of 380 to 650 DEG C, cold forming the blank with intermittent annealing at the temperature at which alpha-zirconium exists, and final working of the blank to make the finished product.