A Comparison of Niobium-Vanadium and Niobium-Zirconium Alloys for Structural Applications in Boiling Water Reactors

An evaluation of tensile, creep, hot hardness, fabrication, and corrosion data for Nb-V and Nb-Zr alloys had been made to assess the merits and limitations of each alloy system for possible use as structural components of boiling water reactors. Niobium-vanadium alloys possessed far superior creep properties, equivalent tensile and hardness properties at elevated temperature, and superior corrosion behavior in high-temperature steam and water. With the exception of a higher neutron capture cross section, Nb-V alloys appeared to offer better potential for conditions existing in boiling water reactors.