Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

A treatment process for a zirconium alloy is provided. The process includes the following steps:                a zirconium alloy ingot is prepared, the composition of which is:                    0.40%≤Nb≤1.05%;            traces≤Sn≤2%;            (0.5Nb−0.25) %≤Fe≤0.50%;            traces≤Ni≤0.10%;            traces≤(Cr+V) %≤0.50%;            traces≤S≤35 ppm;            600 ppm≤O≤2000 ppm, preferably 1200 ppm≤O≤1600 ppm;            traces≤Si≤120 ppm;            traces≤C≤150 ppm;                        the remaining being Zr and unavoidable impurities;        the ingot undergoes at least one reheating and hot shaping step, and possibly a reheating and quenching step following a hot shaping step;        optionally the hot-shaped ingot undergoes an annealing;        the hot-shaped and possibly annealed ingot undergoes at least one cycle of cold rolling-annealing steps;        the annealing of at least one of the cold rolling-annealing steps being performed at a temperature comprised between 600° C. and the lowest of either 700° C. or (710−20×Nb %)° C., and the annealings of the other cold rolling-annealing steps, if any, being performed at a temperature not higher than 600° C. Also provided are a Zr alloy so obtained, and part of a fuel assembly for a light water nuclear reactor made of it.