Water reactor fuel cladding tube used in pressurized water reactor and boiled water reactor, comprises outer layer of zirconium based alloy which is metallurgically bonded to inner layer of another zirconium based alloy

摘要

The water reactor fuel cladding tube comprises an outer layer (6) of a zirconium based alloy (A) which is metallurgically bonded to an inner layer (7) of a zirconium based alloy (B). The zirconium based alloys (A,B) comprises at least 96 wt.% of zirconium. The zirconium based alloy (A) contains niobium, tin, chromium, oxygen, copper, vanadium and nickel, as main alloying material. The content of niobium contained in the alloying material of the alloy (A) is 0.1 wt.%. The zirconium based alloy (B) contains tin and iron, as main alloying material. The water reactor fuel cladding tube comprises an outer layer (6) of a zirconium based alloy (A) which is metallurgically bonded to an inner layer (7) of a zirconium based alloy (B). The inner layer is adapted to protect the cladding tube against stress corrosion cracking. The zirconium based alloys (A,B) comprises at least 96 wt.% of zirconium. The zirconium based alloy (A) contains niobium, tin, chromium, oxygen, copper, vanadium and nickel, preferably niobium, chromium and copper, as main alloying material. The content of niobium contained in the alloying material of the alloy (A) is 0.1 wt.%. The zirconium based alloy (B) contains tin and iron, as main alloying material. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) water reactor fuel rod; (2) water reactor fuel assembly; and (3) manufacture of the water reactor fuel cladding tube.