METHOD FOR PRODUCING THIN COMPONENTS FROM ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOY AND PLATES PRODUCED BY THIS METHOD Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes formation of blank from alloy incorporating, apart from zirconium and inevitable impurities, also 0.8 - 1.3 mass percent of niobium, 500 - 2000 ppm of oxygen, and 5 - 35 ppm of sulfur with probable total content of up to 0.25 mass percent of iron, chromium, vanadium, and also up to 300 ppm of tin. This alloy is subjected to beta-state hardening and hot rolling to produce blank which is rolled in cold state at least in three runs with intermediate heat treatment such as annealing. One of these intermediate heat treatment operations or preliminary heat treatment preceding first run is conducted for long time of at least 2 h at 520 to 600 °C. All next probable heat treatment operations are conducted at temperature below 620 °C for maximum 15 min. Method for producing thin plates for fuel assembly spacer grid includes production of thin components wherefrom plate is cut and stamped. Such method makes it possible to eliminate formation of βZr phase.

EFFECT: reduced percentage of reject.

13 cl, 4 dwg, 1 tbl, 3 ex