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.