Patent ID: 7232611

Claim:
A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor, comprising a component ( 1 ), which consists of zirconium or a zirconium-based alloy and which has a surface ( 3 ) on which a corrosion protective oxide layer ( 4 ) is formed, which oxide layer ( 4 ) comprises zirconium oxide, wherein the component ( 1 ) is intended to be in an oxidizing environment ( 6 ) and said oxide layer ( 4 ) has an outer surface ( 5 ) towards said oxidizing environment ( 6 ), characterized in that the component ( 1 ) comprises at least one inner layer ( 10 ) that borders said surface ( 3 ) and thus the oxide layer ( 4 ), wherein the inner layer comprises hydrogen, arranged to promote a transport of zirconium outwards towards said outer surface ( 5 ), and at least a metal from the group of platinum metals which in its elementary form or as an oxide has the ability to effectively dissociate O 2 and H 2 O, and wherein said inner layer ( 10 ) of the component ( 1 ) comprises initially at least 20 ppm by weight hydrogen.