Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit device in which a plurality of circuit elements including a circuit element having a hollow inside are sealed with resin, and to provide a method of manufacturing the same. A circuit device (10) has a first circuit element (13A) having a hollow inside and a plurality of second circuit elements (13B) electrically connected to the first circuit element (13A). The first and second circuit elements (13A) and (13B) are sealed with sealing resin (15). The distances by which the first circuit element (13A) is separated from the second circuit elements (13B) are longer than those by which the second circuit elements (13B) are separated from each other.

Abstract: A channel box for a nuclear-reactor fuel assembly (MOX fuel assembly) containing plutonium, capable of properly controlling the excess reactivity without mixing neutron absorber or burnable poison into a fuel rod, and a channel box for a nuclear-reactor fuel assembly which does not form any gap between the channel box and members containing burnable poison in the channel box and in which the burnable poison does not directly contact with reactor water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a zirconium based alloy member which has very small deformation of elongation and bow occurring due to irradiation growth, a method of manufacturing it, and particularly an channel box for an atomic reactor fuel assembly. A zirconium based alloy plate member having a width of not less than 100 mm and a long length, containing not more than 5 wt % Nb and/or not more 5 wt % Sn, the member having (0001) orientation (Fl value) of hexagonal Zr with respect to longitudinal direction ranging from 0.20 to 0.35, the difference in Fl between the middle and the end being not more than the value calculated from (0.0935.times.Fl-0.00585) and an amount of bow at neutron irradiation of 35 GWd/t which bow occurs in the channel box for a reactor being not more than 2.16 mm.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a channel box for use in a nuclear reactor, Zr-alloy sheet material is formed into a tubular channel box. The method includes solution heat treatment of the Zr-alloy sheet material including quenching from a temperature at which .beta.-phase is present. After the solution heat treatment, portions of the Zr-alloy sheet are thinned relative to other portions by a non-stressing thinning process, such as chemical etching in a bath. The corrosion resistance imparted by heat treatment is retained, and the heat treatment itself is easily performed on material of uniform thickness.

Abstract: A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor comprising a fuel cladding tube of three-layer structure having an outer surface in contact with reactor water of the nuclear reactor, an inner surface layer in contact with the nuclear fuel, and an intermediate layer interposed between the outer surface layer and the inner surface layer. the outer surface layer is made of a Zr-based alloy containing Nb, Sn and Mo. The inner surface layer is made of pure zirconium. The intermediate layer is made of a high ductility alloy which is higher in ductility than the outer surface layer and is higher in strength than the inner surface layer.

Abstract: A zirconium based alloy plate of low irradiation growth, containing not more than 5 wt % Sn and/or not more 5 wt % Nb, and the balance Zr of not less than 90 wt %. The alloy plate has a texture that <0001> orientation (Fr value) with respect to direction perpendicular to the surface of the plate ranges from 0.20 to 0.50. This alloy plate is effective in being used to form a fuel channel box. Also a fuel assembly using this channel box is provided in which the crystal orientation of the zirconium alloy is made random by a heat treatment. Specifically, by the heat treatment, the Fr, Ft, and Fl values thereof are set to 0.25 to 0.50, 0.25 to 0.36, and 0.25 to 0.36, respectively.

Abstract: A channel box and/or a spacer of a fuel assembly is a welded construction and made of a Zr-Nb-Sn alloy comprising 0.5-2.2 wt % Nb, 0.5-1.5 wt % Sn contained so as to satisfy the relation of Sn(wt %) 22.times.Nb(wt %)--3.0, and balance Zr or a Zr-Nb-Sn-Mo alloy comprising 0.5-2.2 wt % Nb, 0.5-1.5 wt % Sn contained so as to satisfy the relation of Sn(wt %).gtoreq.2.times.Nb(wt %)--0.3, 0.1-0.8 wt % Mo, and balance Zr. The welded portion, its heat affected zone and the unwelded portion of the channel box and/or the spacer have substantially the whole equilibrium phase structure.

Abstract: A zirconium-based alloy with a high corrosion resistance, consisting essentially of 1 to 2 wt % Sn, 0.20 to 0.35 wt % Fe, 0.03 to 0.16 wt % Ni and the balance substantially Zr. The Fe/Ni content ratio of the alloy ranges between 1.4 and 8. The structure of the alloy has fine intermetallic compound of Sn and Ni is precipitated within the zirconium crystal grain of .alpha.-phase. The alloy may further contain 0.05 to 0.15 wt % Cr. This alloy exhibits reduced hydrogen absorption rate and suffers from no nodular corrosion, so that it can suitably be used as a material of nuclear fuel cladding tubes. The nuclear fuel cladding tube made of this alloys exhibits extended service life when used in a nuclear reactor of high degree of burn-up.

Abstract: A method of producing cladding tube comprises a step of temperature-gradient annealing in which the inner surface of the tube is heated to a temperature higher than the recrystallization temperature thereof, while the outer surface of the tube is cooled, after the tube has been hot-extruded. The temperature-gradient annealing is effected while a temperature gradient is maintained between the inner surface and the outer surface of the cladding tube. While keeping the inner surface at a temperature higher than the recrystallization temperature, and the outer surface at a temperature lower than the recrystallization temperature. The cladding tube is obtained with the outer surface which has an excellent resistance to nodular corrosion and a soft inner surface which has an excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking.

Abstract: In a process for producing a zirconium-based alloy in which after the zirconium-based alloy is subjected to hot plastic working, it is subjected to cold plastic working and then to annealing and these steps are repeated at least twice, the present invention provides a process for producing a zirconium-based alloy characterized in that after the alloy is subjected to solid solution treatment in which it is heated to a temperature within the range including the .alpha. phase and the .beta. phase of the alloy, or within the range of the .beta. phase and is then quenched, cold plastic working is effected at least twice.

Abstract: In a process for producing a zirconium-based alloy in which after the zirconium-based alloy is subjected to hot plastic working, it is subjected to cold plastic working and then to annealing and these steps are repeated at least twice, the present invention provides a process for producing a zirconium-based alloy characterized in that after the alloy is subjected to solid solution treatment in which it is heated to a temperature within the range including the .alpha. phase and the .beta. phase of the alloy, or within the range of the .beta. phase and is then quenched, cold plastic working is effected at least twice.

Abstract: O-ethyl-S-n-propyl-dithiophosphoric acid phenyl or naphthyl esters, i.e. O-ethyl-S-n-propyl-O- or S-optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl-phosphorothionothiol- or dithiolates, of the formula ##STR1## in which X is an oxygen or sulfur atom, andZ is a group of the formula ##STR2## Y is a halogen atom or a lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylmercapto, lower alkylsufinyl, nitro, cyano or phenyl group, andm is 0, 1, 2 or 3,Which possess insecticidal, acaricidal and nematocidal properties.

Abstract: O-ethyl-S-n-propyl-dithiophosphoric acid phenyl or naphthyl esters, i.e. O-ethyl-S-n-propyl-O- or S- optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl-phosphorothionothiol-- or dithiolates, of the formula ##EQU1## in which X is an oxygen or sulfur atom, andZ is a group of the formula ##SPC1##Y is a halogen atom or a lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylmercapto, lower alkylsulfinyl, nitro, cyano or phenyl group, andm is 0, 1, 2 or 3, which possess insecticidal, acaricidal and nematocidal properties.