Patent ID: 6544361
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
Process for manufacturing flat thin components, in which an alloy consisting, by weight, besides zirconium and the inevitable impurities, of 0.8 to 1.3% niobium, 500 to 2000 ppm oxygen and 5 to 35 ppm sulfur and, optionally, up to 0.25% Fe+Cr+V and up to 300 ppm tin undergoes steps comprising a &bgr; hardening operation and a hot-rolling pass in order to obtain a blank and the blank is rolled in at least three cold rolling passes with intermediate annealing heat treatments,one of these intermediate heat treatments or a prior heat treatment before the first cold-rolling pass being carried out for at least 2 hours, at a temperature of between 520Â° C. and 600Â° C. and all optional heat treatments which follow the one of the intermediate heat treatments or the prior heat treatment of at least 2 hours being carried out at a temperature below 620Â° C. for at most 15 min.