Patent Number: 060144181
Section: claims

1. A weld of a zirconium alloy rod, comprising: a bead and a heat affected zone adjacent to said bead, wherein grain boundaries in said heat affected zone comprises 4.0 to 30% by weight Nb and 0.9 to 20% by weight Fe.  0.6 to 2.0% by weight of Nb,  0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Sn,  0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Fe, and  Zr and incidental impurities.  0.8 to 1.2% by weight of Nb,  0.8 to 1.1% by weight of Sn,  0.08 to 0.12% by weight of Fe, and  Zr and incidental impurities.  a cladding tube,  end caps, and the weld of claim 1, connecting said cladding tube and said end caps.  0.6 to 2.0% by weight of Nb,  0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Sn,  0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Fe, and  Zr and incidental impurities.  0.8 to 1.2% by weight of Nb,  0.8 to 1.1% by weight of Sn,  0.08 to 0.12% by weight of Fe, and  Zr and incidental impurities.  cooling a heat-affect zone of said weld at a rate of 5-70.degree. C./sec.;  wherein said heat affected zone has been prepared by welding a cladding tube and an end plug together, wherein said cladding tube comprises 0.6 to 2.0% by weight of Nb, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Sn, 0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Fe, and Zr and incidental impurities.  sealing by welding a cladding tube and end plugs, thereby forming beads and heat affected zones adjacent to said beads; and  cooling said heat-affect zones at a rate of 5-70.degree. C./sec.;  wherein said cladding tube comprises 0.6 to 2.0% by weight of Nb, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Sn, 0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Fe, and Zr and incidental impurities.  generating heat by fission of a nuclear fuel inside the fuel rod of claim 7 . 2. The weld of claim 1, wherein said weld comprises: 3. The weld of claim 1, wherein said weld comprises: 4. The weld of claim 2, wherein said weld consists essentially of Nb, Sn, Fe, Zr and incidental impurities. 5. The weld of claim 3, wherein said weld consists essentially of Nb, Sn, Fe, Zr and incidental impurities. 6. The weld of claim 5, further consisting essentially of Cr. 7. A fuel rod, comprising: 8. The fuel rod of claim 7, wherein said cladding tube comprises: 9. The fuel rod of claim 7, wherein said cladding tube comprises: 10. The fuel rod of claim 8, wherein said cladding tube consists essentially of Nb, Sn, Fe, Zr and incidental impurities. 11. The fuel rod of claim 9, wherein said cladding tube consists essentially of Nb, Sn, Fe, Zr and incidental impurities. 12. The fuel rod of claim 11, wherein said cladding further consists essentially of Cr. 13. A method of enhancing the corrosion resistance of a weld, comprising: 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said cladding tube comprises 0.8 to 1.2% by weight of Nb, 0.8 to 1.1% by weight of Sn, 0.08 to 0.12% by weight of Fe, and Zr and incidental impurities. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said cladding tube consists essentially of Nb, Sn, Fe, Zr and incidental impurities. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein said cladding tube consists essentially of Nb, Sn, Fe, Zr and incidental impurities. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein said cladding tube further consists essentially of Cr. 18. A method of making a fuel rod, comprising: 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said cladding tube comprises 0.8 to 1.2% by weight of Nb, 0.8 to 1.1% by weight of Sn, 0.08 to 0.12% by weight of Fe, and Zr and incidental impurities. 20. The product produced by the method of claim 13. 21. The product produced by the method of claim 18. 22. A method of generating electrical power, comprising: