Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A cladding tube for nuclear fuel, a majority component of the cladding tube being made of a zirconium-based alloy suitable for use in a corrosive environment where it is subjected to increased radiation, the alloy having a quality and impurity level, including, optionally, 500-1600 ppm O and, optionally, 50-120 ppm Si, suitable for use in nuclear reactors, the alloy consisting essentially of:0.65-1.6 percent by weight Nb;0.3-0.6 percent by weight Fe;0.65-0.85 percent by weight Sn; andthe balance being Zr. 2. The cladding tube according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of an inner circumference of the cladding tube is provided with a layer of a material that is more ductile than the alloy. 3. The cladding tube according to claim 2, wherein the layer comprises a zirconium-based alloy having a total content of alloying elements that does not exceed 0.5 percent by weight. 4. A cladding tube for nuclear fuel, a majority component of the cladding tube being made of a zirconium-based alloy suitable for use in a corrosive environment where it is subjected to increased radiation, the alloy having a quality and impurity level, including 500-1600 ppm O and 50-120 ppm Si, suitable for use in nuclear reactors, the alloy consisting essentially of:0.65-1.6 percent by weight Nb;0.3-0.6 percent by weight Fe;0.65-0.85 percent by weight Sn; andthe balance being Zr. 5. The cladding tube according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of an inner circumference of the cladding tube is provided with a layer of a material that is more ductile than the alloy. 6. The cladding tube according to claim 5, wherein the layer comprises a zirconium-based alloy having a total content of alloying elements that does not exceed 0.5 percent by weight. 7. A cladding tube for nuclear fuel, a majority component of the cladding tube being made of a zirconium-based alloy suitable for use in a corrosive environment where it is subjected to increased radiation, the alloy having a quality and impurity level suitable for use in nuclear reactors, the alloy consisting essentially of:0.65-1.6 percent by weight Nb;0.3-0.6 percent by weight Fe;0.65-0.85 percent by weight Sn; andthe balance being Zr. 8. The cladding tube according to claim 7, wherein at least a part of an inner circumference of the cladding tube is provided with a layer of a material that is more ductile than the alloy. 9. The cladding tube according to claim 8, wherein the layer comprises a zirconium-based alloy having a total content of alloying elements that does not exceed 0.5 percent by weight.