Patent Number: 052672840
Section: claims

1. A zirconium alloy absorber material comprising about 100 parts by weight zirconium alloy and about 0.1 to 0.4 parts by weight isotopically purified erbium-167. 2. The zirconium alloy absorber material of claim 1, wherein the erbium-167 is provided in an amount equal to about 0.2 parts by weight. 3. The zirconium alloy absorber material of claim 1, wherein the zirconium alloy is selected from the group consisting of Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4. 4. A method of making a zirconium alloy absorber material comprising the steps of: providing a zirconium alloy;  providing isotopically purified erbium-167; and  homogeneously combining about 100 weight parts of the zirconium alloy and about 0.1 to 0.4 weight parts of the erbium-167 to form a zirconium alloy absorber material. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the erbium-167 is provided in an amount equal to about 0.2 weight parts. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the zirconium alloy is selected from the group consisting of Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4.