Metals & alloys · Titanium & zirconium alloys
Zircaloy-2 nuclear cladding alloy
A zirconium–tin alloy historically used for boiling-water-reactor fuel cladding and reactor hardware because of low neutron absorption and aqueous corrosion performance.
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01
Overview
- Material class
- Metals & alloys
- Category
- Titanium & zirconium alloys
- Family
- Zirconium Cladding Alloy
- Product forms
- Sheet/plate, Bar/rod
Composition
| Constituent | Min | Max | Typical | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sn | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | |
| Fe | 0.07 | 0.2 | 0.15 | |
| Cr | 0.05 | 0.15 | 0.1 | |
| Ni | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.05 | |
| Zr | Balance |
02
Properties and conditions
Engineering properties
| Property | Value | Unit | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 6.55 | g/cm³ | Representative; verify product form and condition |
| Elastic modulus | ~95 | GPa | Representative; verify product form and condition |
| Thermal conductivity | ~16–22 | W/m·K | temperature dependent |
| Neutron absorption | low | reactor grade | |
| Service role | fuel cladding | BWR heritage | |
| Hydrogen pickup | controlled | water chemistry dependent |
Conditions
Representative supplied condition
Condition not fully specified in the source record.
03
Processing and use
Processing
- Product form, thermal history and manufacturing route materially affect performance.
Applications
- BWR fuel cladding
- Channel boxes
- Reactor hardware
Selection considerations
- Use the current governing standard and supplier certification for design or procurement.
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04
Standards and related materials
Standards and designations
| System | Designation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| UNS | R60802 | |
| ASTM | B811 / B353 | product dependent |
05
Sources and context
Sources
- ATI Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 dataExisting reference
- IAEA zirconium alloy referencesExisting reference
- U.S. Department of Energy critical materials programStrategic reference
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission materials resourcesApplication reference
Confirm the applicable specification, product form and condition before using values for design or procurement.
Supply and sustainability
Availability and lead time depend on grade, product form, certification and regional supply chain.
Segregated recovery and closed-loop recycling improve material efficiency where practical.
Strategic context
Critical inputs: Z, i, r, c, o, n, i, u, m
Basis: US DOE Critical Materials List and assessment; USGS critical minerals framework