Suppression of ambient temperature creep by eutectic phase for hexagonal close-packed metal

Zr–Si alloys were designed to contain eutectic phase surrounding the parent phase to suppress creep behavior of claddings. Creep tests conducted at 294–573 K showed that creep behavior was inhibited and that the creep failure time of new Zr alloy became longer than that of a conventional alloy: Zircaloy-4. Results show that the eutectic phase can suppress creep at operating temperatures prevailing in current nuclear power plants.