Patent US4618663A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4649023A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4649023A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for fabricating a zirconium-niobium alloy and articles resulting therefrom
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co LLC
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Filing: 1985-01-22
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Granted: 1987-03-10
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Expires: 2005-01-22
Abstract
Abstract Articles, such as tubing, which have excellent corrosion resistance to steam at elevated temperatures and to hydriding, are produced from zirconium alloys containing 0.5 to 2.0 percent niobium, up to 1.5 percent tin, and up to 0.25 percent of a third alloying element such as iron, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, copper, nickel and tungsten. The articles are formed by beta-treating the alloy, initially deforming the same at a temperature below 650 DEG C. and further deforming the same through cold working stages also below 650 DEG C., annealing the material between the cold working stages at a temperature between 500 DEG -650 DEG C., and final annealing the same at a temperature below 650 DEG C. to provide articles having a microstructure of fine precipitates of less than about 800 ANGSTROM , homogeneously dispersed throughout the zirconium.
Inventors
- 👤 George P. Sabol
- 👤 Samuel G. McDonald, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:52
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/16; C22F1/18; C22F1/186; G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/06; G21C3/07; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An article of manufacture for use in the elevated temperature aqueous environment of a water reactor, said article comprising: a zirconium alloy composing said article and consisting essentially of: 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent niobium, 0.9 to 1.5 weight percent tin, 0.09 to 0.11 weight percent of a third alloying element selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, copper, nickel and tungsten, and the balance of said alloy essentially zirconium; a microstructure of precipitates homogeneously dispersed throughout the matrix of said zirconium alloy, said precipitates having an average particle size below 800 angstroms; said article and said microstructure produced by a process comprising the steps of: beta treating a billet of said alloy; initially deforming said beta-treated billet at a temperature below 650° C., then further deforming said beta-treated billet through cold working stages at a temperature below about 650° C.; then annealing said alloy between said cold working stages at a temperature of between about 500°-650° C.; and finally annealing said alloy at a temperature below about 650° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An article of manufacture for use in the elevated temperature aqueous environment of a water reactor, said article comprising: a zirconium alloy composing said article and consisting essentially of: 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent niobium, 0.9 to 1.5 weight percent tin, 0.09 to 0.11 weight percent of a third alloying element selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, copper, nickel and tungsten, and the balance of said alloy essentially zirconium; a microstructure of precipitates homogeneously dispersed throughout the matrix of said zirconium alloy, said precipitates having an average particle size below 800 angstroms; said article and said microstructure produced by a process comprising the steps of: beta treating a billet of said alloy; initially deforming said beta-treated billet at a temperature below 650° C., then further deforming said beta-treated billet through cold working stages at a temperature below about 650° C.; then annealing said alloy between said cold working stages at a temperature of between about 500°-650° C.; and finally annealing said alloy at a temperature below about 650° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article according to claim 1 wherein said zirconium alloy further consists essentially of 1000 to 1600 ppm oxygen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 1 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 2.0 weight percent niobium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article according to claim 3 wherein said zirconium alloy further consists essentially of 1000 to 1600 ppm oxygen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 1 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 1.1 weight present tin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article according to claim 1 wherein said third alloying element is iron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article according to claim 5 wherein said third alloying element is iron.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 1 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 1.1 weight percent niobium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 7 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 1.1 weight percent niobium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article according to claim 9 wherein said zirconium alloy further consists essentially of 1000 to 1600 ppm oxygen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article according to claim 1 wherein said average particle size is below abut 500 angstroms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article according to claim 9 wherein said average particle size is below about 500 angstroms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
An article of manufacture for use in the elevated temperature aqueous environment of a water reactor, said article comprising: a zirconium alloy comprising said article and consisting essentially of: 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent niobium, 0.9 to 1.5 weight percent tin, 0.09 to 0.11 weight percent of a third alloying element selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, copper, nickel and tungsten, and the balance of said alloy essentially zirconium; a microstructure of precipitates homogeneously dispersed throughout the matrix of said zirconium alloy, said precipitates having an average particle size below 800 angstroms.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
An article of manufacture for use in the elevated temperature aqueous environment of a water reactor, said article comprising: a zirconium alloy comprising said article and consisting essentially of: 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent niobium, 0.9 to 1.5 weight percent tin, 0.09 to 0.11 weight percent of a third alloying element selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, copper, nickel and tungsten, and the balance of said alloy essentially zirconium; a microstructure of precipitates homogeneously dispersed throughout the matrix of said zirconium alloy, said precipitates having an average particle size below 800 angstroms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article according to claim 13 wherein said zirconium alloy further consists essentially of 1000 to 1600 ppm oxygen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 13 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 2.0 weight percent niobium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article according to claim 15 wherein said zirconium alloy further consists essentially of 1000 to 1600 ppm oxygen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 13 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 1.1 weight percent tin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article according to claim 13 wherein said third alloying element is iron.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article according to claim 17 wherein said third alloying element is iron.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 13 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 1.1 weight percent niobium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 19 wherein said zirconium alloy contains 0.9 to 1.1 weight percent niobium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article according to claim 21 wherein said zirconium alloy further consists essentially of 1000 to 1600 ppm oxygen.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article according to claim 13 wherein said average particle size is below abut 500 angstroms.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article according to claim 21 wherein said average particle size is below about 500 angstroms.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-09 | 1990-09-08 | 1991-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-09 | 1994-09-08 | 1995-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-09 | 1998-09-08 | 1999-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |