Patent Number: 052456455
Section: abstract

A structural part for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly includes a zirconium alloy material having at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of oxygen and silicon, a tin alloy ingredient, at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel, and a remainder of zirconium and unavoidable contaminants. The zirconium alloy material has a content of the oxygen in a range of substantially from 700 to 2000 ppm, a content of the silicon of substantially up to 150 ppm, a content of the iron in a range of substantially from 0.07 to 0.5% by weight, a content of the chromium in a range of substantially from 0.05 to 0.35% by weight, a content of the nickel of substantially up to 0.1% by weight, and a content of the tin in a range of substantially from 0.8 to 1.7% by weight. The alloy ingredients selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel are precipitated out of a matrix of the zirconium alloy as secondary phases, having a diameter with a geometric mean value in a range of substantially from 0.1 to 0.3 .mu.m. The degree of recrystallization of the zirconium alloy is less than or equal to 10% and a sample of the zirconium alloy, after a recrystallization annealing with a degree of recrystallization of 97.+-.2%, has a mean grain diameter less than or equal to 3 .mu.m.