Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
  • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
  • G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
  • G21C3/02—Fuel elements
  • G21C3/04—Constructional details
  • G21C3/06—Casings; Jackets
  • G21C3/07—Casings; Jackets characterised by their material, e.g. alloys
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22C—ALLOYS
  • C22C1/00—Making non-ferrous alloys
  • C22C1/02—Making non-ferrous alloys by melting
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22C—ALLOYS
  • C22C21/00—Alloys based on aluminium
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
  • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S75/00—Specialized metallurgical processes, compositions for use therein, consolidated metal powder compositions, and loose metal particulate mixtures
  • Y10S75/956—Producing particles containing a dispersed phase

Definitions

• the temperature is restricted to not more than 750 C.
• the only aluminium alloy so far considered in the nuclear field for the above purposes is SAP, made of sintered Al and A1 0 in different types whose A1 0 contents vary from 4% to 14% by weight.
• the mechanical strength of these alloys under heat is good, but there is the disadvantage of an elongation that decreases with the temperature to very low values, about 0.5% uniform elongation at 450 C. This makes it necessary to take great precautions when designing reactors to prevent the material from being deformed.
• Heat-resistant aluminium alloys, which have better deformation capacities than SAP cannot be considered because of their very low mechanical strength at temperatures above 350 C.
• a more advantageous solution of the problem would therefore be the provision of a material having a mechanical strength under heat similar to that of SAP together with a good deformation capacity, and also good heat stability ensuring good behaviour for a long time.
• the solution proposed by the invention consists essentially in a binary aluminium-niobium alloy composed of a matrix of aluminium containing a fine, uniform dispersion of particles of Nb A1 measuring about 1 micron and having a Nb percentage of up to 20% by weight in relation to the total of the matrix and Nb A1 particles, preferably between 5% and 12% "ice
• the invention also provides a process for obtaining the above-mentioned alloy, according to which Nb A1 and A1 are melted completely at a temperature above 1800 (above the melting point of Nb A1 and this is followed by casting under conditions of high cooling speed and compaction under heat (at least 580-600, or in the presence of liquid metal, but no higher than 750 C.) and extrusion if desired.
• the dispersion of Nb A1 in Al is very heat-stable at temperatures between about 400 C. and 500 C. for very long times of several thousand hours.
• the dispersion according to the invention may be produced by the following successive stages:
• a master alloy consisting mainly of the compound Nb A1 was prepared by completely melting equal parts by weight of aluminium and niobium in a helium atmosphere in an arc furnace with a tungsten electrode.
• a high frequency generator was used to melt the master alloy, and aluminium was added in a quantity such that an alloy containing 10% by weight of niobium was obtained.
• the alloy was melted in a cylindrical graphite crucible under argon flux at a temperature higher than 1800 C. When melting was complete, the alloy was poured into a cool cylindrical copper mould, which had a diameter of 200 mm. and a height of 300 mm., and in which a recess 3 mm. thick and mm. long was formed.
• EXAMPLE 2 The master alloy in Example 1 was used. The alloy was melted in a horizontal graphite crucible heated by a high-frequency generator in an atmosphere with a slight excess pressure of argon. Al and the Nb A1 were put in a crucible in proportions such as to form alloys containing 10% of niobium; the material was melted at a temperature higher than 1800 C. Then, with manipulation from outside, the molten metal was poured onto vertically superimposed inclined copper discs with a slope such that the molten metal ran from one to the other, becoming subdivided. The copper structure was kept cold by internal water circulation. Solidified pellets and particles were obtained with a high cooling speed. The rest of the treatment was as in Example 1.
• EXAMPLE 3 This was similar to Example 1, except that the alloy 5 was simply poured, after being melted in a graphite crucible, onto a copper plate 20 mm. thick. The plate was horizontal but it may, if preferred, be slightly inclined.
• a process for obtaining a binary aluminum-niobium alloy containing Nb A1 particles dispersed in an aluminum matrix and having a niobium content up to 20% by weight comprising the step of completely melting the constituents of the alloy at a temperature above 1800 C., casting the molten material under conditions of high cooling speed and compacting the obtained alloy at a temperature of at least 580 C. and when liquid is present, at no more than 750 C.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
• Powder Metallurgy (AREA)
• Induction Machinery (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Alloys Or Alloy Compounds (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11149718

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Citations (3)

• 1967
  • 1967-06-19 CH CH866567A patent/CH488018A/it not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1967-07-10 GB GB31689/67A patent/GB1188590A/en not_active Expired
  • 1967-07-10 US US652038A patent/US3528806A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1967-07-19 BE BE701563D patent/BE701563A/xx unknown
  • 1967-07-19 LU LU54129D patent/LU54129A1/xx unknown
  • 1967-07-25 NL NL6710244A patent/NL6710244A/xx unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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