US5125985A
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US
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Processing zirconium alloy used in light water reactors for specified creep rate
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co LLC
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Filing: 1991-05-30
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Granted: 1992-06-30
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Expires: 2011-05-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention is for the processing of a somewhat broader range of compositions, including ZIRLO material. It controls creep rate in an alloy having, by weight percent, 0.5-2.0 niobium, 0.7-1.5 tin, 0.07-0.28 of at least one of iron, nickel and chromium and up to 220 ppm carbon, and the balance essentially zirconium. The method is of a type which utilizes subjecting the material to a post extrusion anneal, a series of intermediate area reductions and intermediate recrystallization anneals, with one of the intermediate recrystallization anneals possibly being a late stage beta-quench, a final pass area reduction, and a final stress relief anneal. The creep rate is controlled to about the desired amount per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final pass area reduction combination selected from the designated area of a designated figure, with the figure being selected based on whether the post extrusion anneal was an alpha or a beta anneal; on whether the final anneal was a stress relief anneal or a recrystallization anneal, and whether or not a late stage beta-quench was utilized, and the desired creep rate range. The method may also comprise subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and controlling the creep rate by the use of certain intermediate recrystallization annealing temperatures and final pass true area reductions.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Foster
- 👤 Samuel A. Worcester
- 👤 Robert J. Comstock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:10
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21D; C21D8/00; C22; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/16; C22F1/18; C22F1/186; G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/06; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
1521 words
In a method for processing a zirconium alloy, material of the type wherein the material is subjected to a post extrusion anneal, a series of an intermediate area reductions and intermediate recrystallization anneals, with one of the intermediate recrystallization anneals possibly being a late stage beta-quench, a final area reduction, and a final anneal; the improvement comprising controlling creep rate in an alloy consisting essentially of by weight percent, 0.5-2.0 niobium, 0.7-1.5 tin, 0.07-0.28 of at least one of iron, nickel and chromium and up to 220 ppm carbon, and the balance essentially zirconium by: a) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from D area of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 7, or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,140-0.000,200 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area F of FIG. 7; or b) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,140-0.000,200 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area F of FIG. 8; or c) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 9; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 9; or d) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 10; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 10; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 10; or e) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,000,04-0.000,000,1 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,000,1-0.000,000,4 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 11; or controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,000,4-0.000,001 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area F of FIG. 11; or f) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 12; or g) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 13; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 13; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 13; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 13; or h) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,000,4-0.000,001 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 14; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 14; or controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 14; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 14.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
1521 words
In a method for processing a zirconium alloy, material of the type wherein the material is subjected to a post extrusion anneal, a series of an intermediate area reductions and intermediate recrystallization anneals, with one of the intermediate recrystallization anneals possibly being a late stage beta-quench, a final area reduction, and a final anneal; the improvement comprising controlling creep rate in an alloy consisting essentially of by weight percent, 0.5-2.0 niobium, 0.7-1.5 tin, 0.07-0.28 of at least one of iron, nickel and chromium and up to 220 ppm carbon, and the balance essentially zirconium by: a) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from D area of FIG. 7; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 7, or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,140-0.000,200 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area F of FIG. 7; or b) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 8; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,140-0.000,200 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area F of FIG. 8; or c) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 9; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 9; or d) subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 10; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 10; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 10; or e) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,000,04-0.000,000,1 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,000,1-0.000,000,4 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 11; or controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,000,4-0.000,001 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 11; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area F of FIG. 11; or f) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 12; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area E of FIG. 12; or g) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench, and controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 13; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 13; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,030-0.000,070 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 13; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,070-0.000,140 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 13; or h) subjecting the material to a beta post extrusion anneal and a final at least partial recrystallization anneal, and using a late stage beta-quench and controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,000,4-0.000,001 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area A of FIG. 14; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,001-0.000,004 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area B of FIG. 14; or controlling the adjusted creep rate to about 0.000,004-0.000,010 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area C of FIG. 14; or controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,010-0.000,030 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final true area reduction combination selected from area D of FIG. 14.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the material is subjected to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and not using a late stage beta-quench, controlling the creep rate to about 0.000,045-0.000,065 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature of about 1100° F. and a final true area reduction of about 170 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the material is subjected to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and a late stage beta-quench, and the creep rate is controlled to about 0.000,030-0.000,040 per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature of about 1100° C. and a final true area reduction of about 158 percent.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of producing a zirconium alloy workpiece having a constant creep rate at 385° C. (725° F.), comprising the steps of: extruding a workpiece consisting essentially of a composition of, by weight percent, 0.5 to 2.0% niobium, 0.7 to 1.5% tin, 0.07 to 0.28% of at least one of iron, nickel, and chromium, up to 220 ppm carbon, balance essentially zirconium; annealing the extruded workpiece; intermediately working the annealed extruded workpiece by reducing its cross-sectional area in a plurality of intermediate working steps; annealing the intermediately worked workpiece after the intermediate working steps; finally working the workpiece by reducing its cross-sectional area; and recrystallizing the finally worked workpiece.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of producing a zirconium alloy workpiece having a constant creep rate at 385° C. (725° F.), comprising the steps of: extruding a workpiece consisting essentially of a composition of, by weight percent, 0.5 to 2.0% niobium, 0.7 to 1.5% tin, 0.07 to 0.28% of at least one of iron, nickel, and chromium, up to 220 ppm carbon, balance essentially zirconium; annealing the extruded workpiece; intermediately working the annealed extruded workpiece by reducing its cross-sectional area in a plurality of intermediate working steps; annealing the intermediately worked workpiece after the intermediate working steps; finally working the workpiece by reducing its cross-sectional area; and recrystallizing the finally worked workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the extruded workpiece is given an alpha post extrusion anneal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4, comprising the additional step of beta quenching the intermediately worked workpiece after a late stage intermediate working step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4, including the step of reducing the cross sectional area of the workpiece in the final working step by 10-190% true area reduction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, including the step of reducing the cross-sectional area of the workpiece in the final working step by 80-180% true area reduction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, including the step of reducing the cross-sectional area of the workpiece in the final working step by 90-170% true area reduction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-30 | 1995-12-30 | 1996-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-30 | 1999-12-30 | 2000-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-30 | 2003-12-30 | 2004-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |