A niobium alloy formed by adding a certain amount of zirconium and other elements to the niobium base. It was developed to meet the requirement of cladding materials for fast neutron reactors. Niobium has a low thermal neutron absorption cross section (1.1×10-28m2) and strong corrosion resistance to molten alkali lithium, sodium, potassium and sodium-potassium alloy, making it an ideal cladding material for high-temperature nuclear reactors. However, the strength of pure niobium is low, and the strength of niobium can be improved by adding a certain amount of zirconium. In the early 1960s, FS-80(Nb-1Zr) alloy was successfully developed in the United States and used in SNAP50 nuclear fuel cladding material for fast neutron reactor. In the late 1960s, Nb-1Zr alloy was successfully developed in China and applied in the electric light source industry.
Electron beam melting and vacuum arc melting are mainly used in the preparation of niobium zirconium alloy ingots. Then extrusion and forging at 1000 ~ 1200℃, rolling and drawing at room temperature can be prepared into pipes, wires, plates and other products. The welding, heat treatment and coating of niobium zirconium alloy are similar to niobium alloy.
Niobium zirconium alloy is mainly used in the nuclear fuel cladding of fast neutron reactor and space nuclear reactor, high pressure sodium lamp electrode in electric light source industry and missile parts manufacturing.
