FORMATION OF SURFACE OXIDE COATINGS FOR ZIRCONIUM AND ZIRCONIUM BASED ALLOYS

    公开(公告)号:US20230323519A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-10-12

    申请号:US18132051

    申请日:2023-04-07

    申请人: Michael T. Clarke

    发明人: Michael T. Clarke

    IPC分类号: C22F1/18 C22C16/00 C01G25/02

    CPC分类号: C22F1/186 C22C16/00 C01G25/02

    摘要: A process for forming a durable, resistant oxide coating on zirconium metal or zirconium-based alloys, in which the metal or alloy is heated either rapidly to a predetermined temperature in an oxidizing or non-oxidizing environment or heated rapidly or slowly in an environment substantially devoid of an oxidizing agent until the predetermined temperature has been reached. The base metal can be pure zirconium or a zirconium-based alloy having niobium and/or titanium. The temperature, oxygen level, and time of exposure are controlled to elicit the desired properties. The oxidized specimen is then cooled under controlled conditions to further control the thickness and hardness of the oxide layer.

    ALLOYS FOR INERT MATRIX FUEL COMPOSITIONS, AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

    公开(公告)号:US20180130562A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-05-10

    申请号:US15348885

    申请日:2016-11-10

    摘要: In one embodiment, an alloy includes: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta in an amount from about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb; and wherein the alloy comprises a ductile phase and a nanoprecipitate hard phase. According to another embodiment, a method of forming an inert matrix nuclear fuel includes: packing a hollow structure with fuel pellets and alloy precursor pellets; heating the fuel pellets and the alloy precursor pellets to at least a melting temperature of an alloy to be formed by melting the alloy precursor pellets; and solidifying the alloy into a matrix surrounding the fuel pellets. The alloy precursor pellets independently comprise: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta present in an amount from about 1 to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional alloy constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb.