Zirconium alloys based on zirconium and niobium are excellent nuclear engineering materials. The content of niobium in zirconium also varies according to different USES in the reactor. More mature zirconium and niobium alloys include Zr-1Nb alloy, Zr-2.5Nb alloy and Zr-2.5Nb-0.5Cu alloy. Zr-1Nb alloy is used as fuel element cladding material, Zr-2.5Nb alloy as heavy water reactor pressure tube material, and Zr-2.5Nb-0.5Cu alloy as barrier material between pressure tube and container tube.
Zirconium and niobium alloys have been studied extensively in the former Soviet Union, and also in Japan, Britain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. China began to study zirconium and niobium alloy in 1975.
Corrosion properties The corrosion properties of zirconium - niobium alloy depend on the content of niobium and impurities. Niobium can significantly improve the harmful effects of impurities in zirconium. The corrosion performance of zirconium niobium alloy is related to the microstructure after heat treatment.
