In a method of fabrication of nuclear reactor components such as fuel cans and pressure tubes, use is made of zirconium alloys such as Zircaloy 2 or Zircaloy 4 having an oxygen content of 0.14 to 0.25 % by weight. The components are subjected to an annealing operation at a temperature within the range of 400.degree. to 750.degree.C and especially 525.degree. to 750.degree.C over a period of approximately two hours, thus resulting in recrystallization.

A method of continuously nitrogen annealing zirconium and zirconium alloys at temperatures at from 1000.degree. F. to 1600.degree. F. for from 1/2 minute to 10 minutes.

The present invention concerns improved corrosion resistant zirconium alloys consisting of 0.25 to 1.50% by weight of niobium, 0.025 to 0.20% by weight of tin, 0.02 to 1.00% by weight of combined chromium and molybdenum, and the remainder zirconium except for unavoidable impurities. Corrosion tests show that the above alloys have a corrosion rate comparable to Zircaloy 2 at low temperatures and a much better performance at high temperatures. Further the hydrogen uptake of the present alloys are ...

A zirconium or zirconium alloy passivation process comprises providing an electrolyte which is capable of removing nickel, nickel alloys and alloys containing nickel from the surface of a zirconium or zirconium alloy article, keeping the dissolved metal in solution while simultaneously anodizing the article surfaces. Such nickel, if not removed provides a window for hydride accumulation to occur, detrimentally affecting the alloy properties when subject to a nuclear reactor environment. An artic...

A zirconium metal oxide fiber comprises zirconium oxide and a metal oxide. The fiber is made by adding a metal oxide in a suitable form to a colloidal dispersion of an amorphous zirconium polymer. The mixed colloidal dispersion is subsequently made into a fiber. The fiber may be used as a substitute for glass fiber in the manufacture of paper and paper-like materials. The fiber's thickness is substantially uniform and has a length usually in excess of one micron.

Metal oxide nanoparticles having at least some surface acid sites functionalized with an adhesion promoter and at least some surface acid sites functionalized with a coupling agent. The nanoparticles are useful in forming composites comprising photopolymerizable matrix monomers, and are primarily suitable for dental and medical restoration. In a preferred embodiment, the metal oxide comprises zirconium, and the coupling agent is a zirconate.

Oxo-acid salts, double oxides or complex oxides contain 0.001-10 atom % of Zr or Hf. They emit near-ultraviolet radiation when excited with vacuum-ultraviolet radiation.

A zirconium system amorphous alloy having a composition expressed by a general formula Zr.sub.100-X-Y-a-b Ti.sub.x Al.sub.y Cu.sub.a Ni.sub.b wherein a, b, X, and Y in the formula represent atomic percentage, and fulfill X<10, Y>5, Y<-(1/2)X+35/2, 15.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.25, and 5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.15, the zirconium system amorphous alloy has an amorphous phase of more than 50 volume % of the alloy.

A method is disclosed for preventing stress corrosion cracking or metal embrittlement of a zirconium or zirconium alloy container that is to be coated on the inside surface with a layer of a metal such as copper, a copper alloy, nickel, or iron and used for holding nuclear fuel material as a nuclear fuel element. The zirconium material is etched in an etchant solution, desmutted mechanically or ultrasonically, oxidized to form an oxide coating on the zirconium, cleaned in an aqueous alkaline cle...

Vascular grafts fabricated from a substrate of a low modulus metal coated with blue to black zirconium oxide or zirconium nitride. The coating provides enhanced thrombogenicity, biocompatibility, blood compatibility, corrosion-resistance, friction and microfretting resistance, durability, and electrical insulation, where applicable. The coatings may be applied to low modulus metallic substrates by physical or chemical vapor deposition as well as other ion-beam assisted methods. Preferably, howev...