Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A cladding material comprising:a metallic material selected from the group consisting of zirconium, iron, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, niobium, bismuth, and alloys thereof; anda ceramic matrix composite comprising reinforcing fibers within a silicon carbide matrix, the metallic material being disposed over the ceramic matrix composite, wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, basalt, and combinations thereof, the ceramic matrix composite providing increased stiffness to the cladding material;wherein the entire ceramic matrix is interspersed with the reinforcing fibers. 2. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the metallic material comprises zircaloy-4. 3. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the metallic material is less than a thickness of the ceramic matrix composite. 4. The cladding material of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the metallic material is less than or equal to about 1 mm. 5. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from the group consisting of alpha silicon carbide, beta silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, and basalt, and combinations thereof. 6. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the metallic material and the ceramic matrix composite are configured as an elongated cylinder having a hollow core. 7. The cladding material of claim 1, further comprising a zirconium silicate material at an interface between the metallic material and the ceramic matrix composite. 8. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the metallic material is disposed on opposite surfaces of the ceramic matrix composite and infiltrates voids within the ceramic matrix composite, encapsulating the ceramic matrix composite therein. 9. A cladding material comprising:a metallic material comprising zirconium; anda ceramic matrix composite comprising continuous reinforcing fibers within a silicon carbide matrix, the metallic material being disposed over the ceramic matrix composite;a zirconium silicate intermediate material disposed between the metallic material and the ceramic matrix composite, the intermediate material bonding the metallic material to the ceramic matrix composite. 10. The cladding material of claim 9, wherein the continuous reinforcing fibers comprise continuous silicon carbide fibers. 11. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the ceramic matrix composite further comprises metal particulates or metal carbide particulates dispersed in the silicon carbide matrix. 12. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing fibers are beta silicon carbide and the silicon carbide matrix within which the fibers are dispersed is also beta silicon carbide. 13. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing fibers are alpha silicon carbide and the silicon carbide matrix within which the fibers are dispersed is also alpha silicon carbide. 14. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing fibers are woven or otherwise interlaced with one another to form a multi-axial fabric. 15. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing fibers comprise from about 30% to about 45% of the ceramic matrix composite by volume. 16. A cladding material comprising:a metallic material selected from the group consisting of zirconium, iron, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, niobium, bismuth, and alloys thereof; anda ceramic matrix composite comprising reinforcing fibers within a silicon carbide matrix, the metallic material being disposed over the ceramic matrix composite, wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, basalt, and combinations thereof, the ceramic matrix composite providing increased stiffness to the cladding material;wherein the ceramic matrix composite further comprises metal particulates or metal carbide particulates dispersed in the silicon carbide matrix. 17. The cladding material of claim 16, wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from the group consisting of alpha silicon carbide, beta silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, basalt, and combinations thereof. 18. The cladding material of claim 1, wherein: (a) the reinforcing fibers are beta silicon carbide and the silicon carbide matrix within which the fibers are dispersed is also beta silicon carbide; or (b) the reinforcing fibers are alpha silicon carbide and the silicon carbide matrix within which the fibers are dispersed is also alpha silicon carbide.