Reactor Grade (R60001) Zirconium
Reactor grade zirconium is a zirconium alloy. Cited properties are appropriate for the annealed condition. It has a moderately low tensile strength among the zirconium alloys in the database.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare reactor grade zirconium to: zirconium alloys (top), all alloys in the same category (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
98 GPa 14 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
21 %
Poisson's Ratio
0.34
Shear Modulus
37 GPa 5.3 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
330 MPa 48 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
160 MPa 23 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
250 J/g
Specific Heat Capacity
270 J/kg-K 0.064 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
22 W/m-K 13 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
5.9 µm/m-K
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Density
6.5 g/cm3 410 lb/ft3
Embodied Water
280 L/kg 33 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
56 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
130 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
8.4 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
24 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
14 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
16 points
Thermal Diffusivity
13 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
41 points
Alloy Composition
| Zr | 99.7 to 100 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.27 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM B352: Standard Specification for Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy Sheet, Strip, and Plate for Nuclear Application
ASTM B353: Standard Specification for Wrought Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy Seamless and Welded Tubes for Nuclear Service (Except Nuclear Fuel Cladding)