BRAZING ZIRCALOY FUEL ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS FOR THE CAROLINAS VIRGINIA TUBE REACTOR, CVTR PROJECT. Terminal Report

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4003878

King, P P

Zirconium-- beryllium, zirconium-- beryllium-- iron, and zirconium-- beryllium-- copper brazing alloys were investi gated with respect to corrosion resistance and mechanical strength after joining to Zircaloy components by brazing. The zirconium--beryllium alloys had the best corrosion resistance in 680 deg F neutral, degassed, demineralized water at 2705 psi, and the highest average joint strengths. Alloy powders made by hydriding, crushing in argon, and vacuum degassing had a minimum of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen contamination in the brazing alloy. Brazing temperatures and times at temperature were found to be critical in minimizing brazing alloy penetration into the base metal. Short times at brazing temperatures followed by an 800 deg C diffusion treatment proved to be the most satisfactory method for producing strong, corrosion resistant, reproducible joints without eroding the base metal. Several brazed Zircaloy end rings were used satisfactorily in the CVTR inpile loop and in the CVTR Phase II loop study. (auth)

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp. Atomic Power Dept., Pittsburgh
• NSA Number: NSA-15-026511
• OSTI ID: 4003878
• Report Number(s): CVNA-85
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALLOYS
BERYLLIUM ALLOYS
BRAZING
COPPER ALLOYS
CORROSION
CRUSHING
DEGASSING
DIFFUSION
HEAT TREATMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN
INERT GASES
IRON ALLOYS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NITROGEN
OXYGEN
PERFORMANCE
POWDERS
QUANTITY RATIO
TEMPERATURE
VACUUM
WATER
ZIRCALOY