US4226647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat-treated zirconium alloy product
Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd AECL
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Filing: 1978-06-12
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1998-06-12
Abstract
Abstract High tensile strength, creep and corrosion resistant zirconium alloys containing 7.0-10.0 wt % aluminum, 0-3 wt % in total of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of magnesium, tin, chromium, iron, carbon, silicon, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum and beryllium, the balance zirconium and incidental impurities, are produced by annealing cast alloys at a temperature below about 992° C. for a period of time sufficient to produce alloys having a substantially continuous matrix of the ordered intermetallic compound Zr 3 Al. The alloys may initially be hot worked at temperatures about 1000° C., while in the βZr-Zr 2 Al two phase region, prior to annealing. Preferred alloys contain 7.5-9.5 wt % aluminum, the balance zirconium and incidental impurities.
Inventors
- 👤 Erland M. Schulson
- 👤 Donald J. Cameron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:25
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/06; G21C3/07; C; C22; C22C; C22C16/00; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/16; C22F1/18; C22F1/186; G21C1/00; G21C1/04; G21C1/06; G21C1/14; G21C1/16; G21C1/18; G21C1/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A heat-treated, high tensile strength creep and corrosion resistant zirconium alloy containing 7.0-10.0 wt% aluminum, and 0-3.0 wt% of one or more elements selected from the group comprising magnesium, tin, chromium, iron, carbon, silicon, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum and beryllium, balance, zirconium and incidental impurities, having a substantially continuous matrix of the intermetallic compound Zr 3 Al.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A heat-treated, high tensile strength creep and corrosion resistant zirconium alloy containing 7.0-10.0 wt% aluminum, and 0-3.0 wt% of one or more elements selected from the group comprising magnesium, tin, chromium, iron, carbon, silicon, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum and beryllium, balance, zirconium and incidental impurities, having a substantially continuous matrix of the intermetallic compound Zr 3 Al.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 1 contining 7.5-9.5 wt% aluminum, balance zirconium and incidental impurities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Zr 3 Al is a continuous matrix, containing at most isolated regions of αZr and Zr 2 Al.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 1, containing less than 20 vol. % of an αZr solid solution phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 1, having an ultimate tensile strength in the range between about 130,000 and 165,000 psi at 300° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A corrosion resistant alloy as claimed in claim 1, having a rate of weight gain of less than 0.2 mg/dm 2 /day during exposure to moist air at 300° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 1 having a thermal neutron absorption cross section of about 0.0096 cm 2 /cm 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 5 having an increased ultimate tensile strength when irradiated by a fast neutron fluence.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 1 which, unirradiated, is notch-sensitive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An alloy as claimed in claim 9 which, irradiated by a fast neutron fluence, is notch-strengthened.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A corrosion resistant, structural element fabricated from an alloy containing 7.0-10.0 wt% Al, and 0-3.0 wt% of one or more elements selected from the group comprising magnesium, tin, chromium, iron, carbon, silicon, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum and beryllium, balance zirconium and incidental impurities, heat treated in the range from 700° C.-950° C. for a sufficient time to ensure a substantially continuous matrix of the intermetallic compound Zr 3 Al.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A corrosion resistant, structural element fabricated from an alloy containing 7.0-10.0 wt% Al, and 0-3.0 wt% of one or more elements selected from the group comprising magnesium, tin, chromium, iron, carbon, silicon, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum and beryllium, balance zirconium and incidental impurities, heat treated in the range from 700° C.-950° C. for a sufficient time to ensure a substantially continuous matrix of the intermetallic compound Zr 3 Al.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A structural element as claimed in claim 11 containing 7.5-9.5 wt% Al balance zirconium and incidental impurities.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structural element as claimed in claim 12 for use in a thermal nuclear reactor and selected from the group comprising pressure tubes, fuel sheaths and central support tubes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A structural element as claimed in claim 13 having a thermal neutron absorption cross section of about 0.0096 cm 2 /cm 3 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |