Patent ID: 8603266

Claim:
A method of preparing an alloy comprising: mixing at least the following raw materials: Zr, M, N and Q according to a molar ratio of Zr a M b N c :Q:Zr of about (100−x):(x+y):y to form a first mixture; melting the first mixture to form a molten mixture; filtering, casting and cooling the molten mixture to form the alloy represented by the general formula of (Zr a M b N c ) 100-x Q x , wherein: M is at least one transition metal of the periodic table of the elements other than Zr; N is Be or Al; Q is selected from the group consisting of CaO, MgO, Nd 2 O 3 , and combinations thereof; a, b, and c are atomic percents of corresponding elements; and 45≦a≦75, 20≦b≦40, 1≦c≦25, a+b+c=100, 1≦x≦15, and 0.1≦y≦5.