Vacuum annealing of zirconium based articles
This patent describes a method of annealing comprising the steps of: obtaining a bundle of zirconium base alloy tubes; placing the bundle into the cold zone of a vacuum furnace; evacuating the cold zone and maintaining a hot zone to the furnace at a desired annealing temperature between about 820/sup 0/ and about 1450/sup 0/F.; moving the bundle through an energized induction coil and into the hot zone of the furnace; heating the bundle with the energized induction coil as the bundle moves through the energized induction coil, and whereby a central tube in the bundle is heated to a temperature between about 500/sup 0/F. and the desired annealing temperature, while the tubes on the periphery of the bundle are heated to a maximum temperature which is less than 50/sup 0/F. above the desired annealing temperature.
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4636267
- OSTI ID:
- 6986699
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360101* -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
ALLOYS
ANNEALING
CONTROL
ELECTRIC COILS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FURNACES
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
TUBES
VACUUM FURNACES
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS