METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A ZIRCONIUM-BASED ALLOY TUBE FOR A NUCLEAR FUEL ELEMENT SHEATH AND TUBE THEREOF

摘要

Process for the manufacture of a tube for a fuel element sheath, intended to be employed in a reactor, made of zirconium-based alloy, comprising a number of successive rolling and annealing runs and an application of this process to a particular alloy. It is characterised in that the final stage of the process is a heat treatment for homogenising the whole of the element in beta phase by heating to a temperature of between 950 DEG C and 1250 DEG C, followed by rapid cooling to room temperature.