Patent ID: 6368429
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: C22F,G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a tubular article made of binary zirconium alloys from an initial zirconium alloy billet obtained by &bgr;-deformation processing of an ingot, the method comprising in the following order:a) molding the initial billet while it exists in an &agr; phase to form a tubular billet having a cross-sectional area Sbillet; b) roll forming the tubular billet to produce a first intermediate tube having a cross-sectional area Stube so that &mgr;<2.0 wherein &mgr;=Sbillet/Stube; c) annealing the first intermediate tube while it exists in an &agr; phase; and d) roll forming and annealing the first intermediate tube at least once more to produce an intermediate tube product having a final cross-sectional area Sready tube so that &mgr;&Sgr;<50 wherein &mgr;&Sgr;=Sbillet/Sready tube.