The present invention relates to a zirconium alloy having excellent
corrosion resistance and mechanical properties and a method for preparing
a nuclear fuel cladding tube by zirconium alloy. More particulary, the
present invention is directed to a zirconium alloy comprising
Zr-aNb-bSn-cFe-dCr-eCu (a=0.05-0.4 wt %, b=0.3-0.7 wt %, c=0.1-0.4 wt %,
d=0-0.2 wt % and e=0.01-0.2 wt %, provided that Nb+Sn=0.35-1.0 wt %), and
to a method for preparing a zirconium alloy nuclear fuel cladding tube,
comprising melting a metal mixture comprising of the zirconium and
alloying elements to obtain ingot, forging the ingot at .beta. phase
range, .beta.-quenching the forged ingot at 1015-1075.degree. C.,
hot-working the quenched ingot at 600-650.degree. C., cold-working the
hot-worked ingot in three to five passes, with intermediate vacuum
annealing and final vacuum annealing the worked ingot at 460-540.degree.
C., which can be applied to the core components in a light water and a
heavy water atomic reactor type nuclear power plant.
