Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making flat, thin elements which consist of: producing a zirconium alloy blank also containing, besides the inevitable impurities, 0.8 to 1.3% of niobium, 1100 to 1800 ppm of oxygen, and 10 to 35 ppm of sulfur; carrying out a &bgr; hardening and hot rolling to obtain a blank and performing on it at least three cold rolling passes with intermediate annealing heat treatments. One of the intermediate heat treatments is performed for a duration of at least 5 hours at a temperature less than 560° C. and all the optional treatments subsequent to the long treatment are carried out at a temperature of less than 620° C. for not more than 15 minutes.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of zirconium alloy sheet specifically intended for the manufacture of structural elements for boiling water reactors, which includes the following steps:a) producing in a vacuum an ingot having the composition of the desired alloy;b) forging and hot rolling the ingot;c) quenching of the blank thus obtained after reheating in the beta range;d) hot rolling after heating;e) heat treatment in the alpha range;f) at least one cycle of cold rolling followed by a heat treating in the alpha range; andg) final cold rolling followed by subcritical annealing in the alpha range;where the hot rolling of the sheet after quenching from the beta range is carried out in an initial direction, then in a direction perpendicular to the initial direction.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a sheet, band or strip of zirconium alloy or hafnium alloy, comprising hot roughing of an ingot into a blank, then hot rolling of this blank in the alpha domain, this hot rolling including several passes which follow one or more reheatings in a furnace at one or more temperatures (TR), each of which improves the formability of this blank, then cold rolling which consists of one or more cycles of rolling pinch passing/heat treatment. The hot rolling pass following the last furnace reheating is followed by reheating of the hot rolled blank by at least 100.degree. C. at more than 4.degree. C./s by infrared heating means with a wavelength between 0.8 and 5 micrometers. The hot rolling is then continued until the thickness at the end of the hot rolling is less than or equal to 0.8 times the thickness of the hot rolled blank. The product obtained is used for the manufacture of zirconium or hafnium alloy parts for water-type nuclear reactors.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a flat product of zirconium alloy having a width between 50 and 600 mm from a flat cold rolled product. The cold rolled product is heated to the beta range and maintained in the beta range using an infra-red heating device with a wavelength of between 0.8 and 5 microns, the maximum temperature difference over the width of the product being less than 35.degree. C. The product is then rapidly cooled and optionally annealed to obtain a flat product, which can be a strip, sheet or band.

Abstract: Zircaloy 2 or 4 strip is heat treated in the beta range, followed by rapid cooling by passing the strip between a first and second roller pair, each roller pair having two oppositely disposed rollers gripping the strip. Each roller pair is connected to a source of an electric current so as to complete an electric circuit including the source, the roller pairs and the strip, which causes heating of the strip to the beta range. The strip is heated at a rate less than 40.degree. C./sec between 750.degree. and 1000.degree. C., held at 1000.degree.-1100.degree. for less than 2 minutes and cooled at a rate of at least 40.degree. C./sec between 1000.degree. C. and 600.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of a strip of Zircaloy 2 or 4 with an oxygen content of between 900 and 1600 ppm and with mechanical characteristics corresponding to the following conditions:E.sub.0.2 at 315.degree. C..gtoreq.250 MPa"long" uniform A% at 20.degree. C..gtoreq.4 and"transverse" uniform A% at 20.degree. C..gtoreq.4,wherein, after hot working of an ingot to provide a billet, said billet is cold rolled to form a strip with intermediate annealing operations, characterized in that: (a) each of the last two intermediate annealing operations is a treatment for from 0.5 min to 10 min at between 750 ad 650.degree. C., (b) the final heat treatment following the last rolling operation is for from 1.5 to 7 min at between 630 ad 590.degree. C., and (c) the strip is rolled with particular degrees of deformation for each of the last three rolling operations.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of a strip of Zircaloy 2 or 4 with an oxygen content of between 900 and 1600 ppm and with mechanical characteristics corresponding to the following three conditions:E.sub.0.2 at 315.degree.C..gtoreq.250 MPa`long` uniform A % at 20.degree.C..gtoreq.4 and`transverse` uniform A % at 20.degree. C..gtoreq.4,wherein, after hot working of an ingot to provide a billet, said billet is cold rolled to form a strip with intermediate annealing operations, characterized in that:(a) each of the last two intermediate annealing operations is a treatment of from 0.5 min to 10 min at between 750.degree. and 650.degree. C.,(b) the final heat treatment following the last rolling operation is for from 1.5 to 7 min at between 630.degree. and 590.degree. C., and(c) the strip is rolled with particular degrees of deformation for each of the last three rolling operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite container body wherein the inner surface, and optionally the outer surface and/or the edges, of said body are covered with a multi-layer complex comprising a metallic film to which is adhered a layer of an adhesive such as at least one copolymer obtained by polymerization of a monoolefin and grafting with a monoethylenic carboxylic acid, optionally in admixture with a second compound selected, for example, from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polystyrene, polyesters, copolymers of ethylene and acrylic acid, and paraffins and waxes derived from the refining of crude petroleum.