Method of processing tubing

Patent · Tue Jun 09 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6374220

Prizzi, J J

This patent describes a process for manufacturing zirconium base alloy tubing having a substantially uniform metallic composition throughout the tubing, comprising the steps of: cold pilgering a starting tube to produce an as cold pilgered intermediate tube; intermediate surface annealing the as cold pilgered intermediate tube by rapidly scanning the tube with a rapid heating means to heat a first annular outer layer to a higher temperature than a first annular inner layer to produce the first annular outer layer which is fully recrystallized while producing the first annular inner layer which is only stress relief annealed and located inside of the first annular outer layer; after the intermediate annealing, cold pilgering the intermediate annealed tube to produce a second as cold pilgering tube, the second as cold pilgered tube having a second outer layer having a predetermined first degree of the cold work and a second inner layer having a second degree of cold work higher than the first predetermined degree of cold work; and then final annealing the second as cold pilgered tube to provide a substantially uniform heat treatment throughout the wall thickness of the second as cold pilgered tube to produce the second outer layer which is essentially only stress relief annealed while producing the second inner layer which is at least substantially fully recrystallized, and located inside of the second outer layer, the difference between the level of recrystallization of the second outer layer and the second inner layer resulting from the combination of the final annealing of the second as cold pilgered tube by a substantially uniform heat treatment throughout the wall thickness.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4671826
• OSTI ID: 6374220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101* -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
ALLOYS
ANNEALING
COLD WORKING
CONTROL
DIMENSIONS
FABRICATION
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEATING
LAYERS
MATERIALS WORKING
RECRYSTALLIZATION
RELAXATION
STRESS RELAXATION
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THICKNESS
TUBES
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS