Improved corrosion resistance of additively-manufactured zirconium alloys

A method for additively manufacturing a component for use in a nuclear reactor comprising:

• depositing a layer of a powder feedstock comprising a zirconium alloy, across a build plate;
• affixing at least a selected region of the layer together in the selected region, the affixing comprising:
• rastering a laser across the layer of powder feedstock along a path guided by previously input computer-aided design files of the specifications for a three-dimensional component to be built;
• melting the powder feedstock within the layer with the laser;
• solidifying the melted powder;
• repeating the depositing and the affixing to provide an additively manufactured component;
• removing the additively manufactured component from the build plate;
• annealing the additively manufactured component at an annealing temperature within the alpha phase temperature range of the metal, the alpha-beta phase temperature range of the metal, or a combination thereof.