Patent Number: 051223341
Section: claims

1. A zirconium-base alloy having improved creep strength, comprising Zr and an amount of Ga effective to improve creep strength of the alloy, Ga being present in amounts up to 1 wt.%. 2. The alloy of claim 1, wherein Ga is present in amounts up to 0.5 wt. %. 3. The alloy of claim 1, wherein Ga is present in amounts up to 0.25 wt. %. 4. The alloy of claim 1, wherein Ga is present in amounts of 0.1-0.25 wt. %. 5. The alloy of claim 1, wherein Ga is present in amounts of 0.25-0.5 wt. %. 6. The alloy of claim 1, further comprising up to 0.5 wt. % oxygen. 7. The alloy of claim 6, wherein oxygen is present in amounts of 0.1-0.25 wt. %. 8. The alloy of claim 6, wherein oxygen is present in amounts of 0.12-0.18 wt. %. 9. The alloy of claim 1, further comprising up to 1 wt. % Sn. 10. The alloy of claim 9, wherein Sn is present in amounts of 0.1-0.7 wt. %. 11. The alloy of claim 9, wherein Sn is present in amounts of 0.25-0.5 wt. %. 12. The alloy of claim 1, further comprising at least one of Fe, Cr and V in a total amount of up to 1 wt. %. 13. The alloy of claim 12, wherein Fe is present in amounts up to 0.5 wt. %. 14. The alloy of claim 12, wherein Fe is present in amounts of 0.1-0.5 wt. %. 15. The alloy of claim 12, wherein Fe is present in amounts of 0.25-0.4 wt. %. 16. The alloy of claim 12, wherein Cr is present in amounts up to 0.5 wt. %. 17. The alloy of claim 12, wherein Cr is present in amounts of 0.1-0.5 wt. %. 18. The alloy of claim 12, wherein Cr is present in amounts of 0.15-0.25 wt. %. 19. The alloy of claim 12, wherein v is present in amounts up to 0.5 wt. %. 20. The alloy of claim 12, wherein V is present in amounts of 0.15-0.4 wt. %. 21. The alloy of claim 12, wherein V is present in amounts of 0.2-0.3 wt. %. 22. The alloy of claim 5, further comprising 0.1-0.25 wt. % oxygen, 0.1-0.7 wt. % Sn, 0.1-0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.15-0.4 wt. % V, 0-0.5 wt. % Cr, balance Zr and unavoidable impurities. 23. The alloy of claim 22, wherein oxygen is present in amounts of 0.12-0.18 wt. %, Sn is present in amounts of 0.25-0.5 wt. %, Fe is present in amounts of 0.25-0.4 wt. %, V is present in amounts of 0.2-0.3 wt. %, and Cr is present in amounts of 0.15-0.25 wt. %. 24. A structural component for use in nuclear reactors and made of a zirconium-base alloy, the alloy including an amount of Ga effective to improve creep strength of the alloy, Ga being present in amount up to 1 wt.%. 25. The structural component of claim 24, wherein the alloy includes up to 1 wt. % Ga, up to 0.5 wt. % oxygen, up to 1 wt. % Sn and up to 1 wt. % in total of Fe, Cr and V. 26. The structural component of claim 24, wherein the alloy consists essentially of up to 0.5 wt.% Ga, 0.1-0.25 wt. % oxygen, 0.1-0.7 wt. % Sn, 0.1-0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.1-0.5 wt. % V, 0-0.5 wt. % Cr, balance Zr and unavoidable impurities. 27. The structural component of claim 26, wherein oxygen is present in amounts of 0.12-0.18 wt. %, Sn is present in amounts of 0.1-0.3 wt. %, Fe is present in amounts of 0.25-0.4 wt. %, V is present in amounts of 0.15-0.35 wt. %, and Cr is present in amounts of 0-0.25 wt. %. 28. The structural component of claim 24, wherein the alloy consists essentially of up to 0.5 wt.% Ga, 0.1-0.25 wt. % oxygen, 0.1-0.7 wt. % Sn, 0.1-0.5 wt. % Fe, 0-0.5 wt. % V, 0.1-0.5 wt. % Cr, balance Zr and unavoidable impurities. 29. The structural component of claim 28, wherein oxygen is present in amounts of 0.12-0.18 wt. %, Sn is present in amounts of 0.1-0.3 wt. %, Fe is present in amounts of 0.25-0.4 wt. %, V is present in amounts of 0-0.25 wt. %, and Cr is present in amounts of 0.1-0.3 wt. %. 30. The structural component of claim 24, wherein the structural component comprises a fuel tube. 31. The structural component of claim 30, wherein the fuel tube is liner-free. 32. The structural component of claim 30, wherein the fuel tube includes a Ga-free inner liner of zirconium. 33. The structural component of claim 24, wherein the structural component comprises a component of a fuel assembly.