Heat-treated zirconium alloy product

Abstract

High tensile strength, creep and corrosion resistant zirconium alloys containing 7.0-10.0 wt % aluminum, 0-3 wt % in total of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of magnesium, tin, chromium, iron, carbon, silicon, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum and beryllium, the balance zirconium and incidental impurities, are produced by annealing cast alloys at a temperature below about 992.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to produce alloys having a substantially continuous matrix of the ordered intermetallic compound Zr.sub.3 Al. The alloys may initially be hot worked at temperatures about 1000.degree. C., while in the .beta.Zr-Zr.sub.2 Al two phase region, prior to annealing. Preferred alloys contain 7.5-9.5 wt % aluminum, the balance zirconium and incidental impurities.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.