The disclosure is directed to an apparatus comprising feedback-assisted control of the heating process in rapid discharge heating and forming of metallic glass articles.

An alloy for biomedical use includes Zr as a main component, Nb the content of which is not less than 0.1% by weight and not greater than 25% by weight, Mo the content of which is not less than 0.1% by weight and not greater than 25% by weight, and Ta the content of which is not less than 0.1% by weight and not greater than 25% by weight. A tensile strength of the alloy is not less than 1000 MPa. A total content of Nb, Mo, and Ta in the alloy is not less than 2% by weight and not greater than 50% by weight. Mass susceptibility of the alloy is not greater than 1.5010.sup.6 cm.sup.3/g. A Young's modulus of the alloy is not greater than 100 GPa. Also disclosed is a medical product including the alloy and a method for producing the alloy.

An alloy for biomedical use includes Zr as a main component, Nb the content of which is not less than 0.1% by weight and not greater than 25% by weight, Mo the content of which is not less than 0.1% by weight and not greater than 25% by weight, and Ta the content of which is not less than 0.1% by weight and not greater than 25% by weight. A tensile strength of the alloy is not less than 1000 MPa. A total content of Nb, Mo, and Ta in the alloy is not less than 2% by weight and not greater than 50% by weight. Mass susceptibility of the alloy is not greater than 1.5010.sup.6 cm.sup.3/g. A Young's modulus of the alloy is not greater than 100 GPa. Also disclosed is a medical product including the alloy and a method for producing the alloy.

In one embodiment, an alloy includes: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta in an amount from about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb; and wherein the alloy comprises a ductile phase and a nanoprecipitate hard phase. According to another embodiment, a method of forming an inert matrix nuclear fuel includes: packing a hollow structure with fuel pellets and alloy precursor pellets; heating the fuel pellets and the alloy precursor pellets to at least a melting temperature of an alloy to be formed by melting the alloy precursor pellets; and solidifying the alloy into a matrix surrounding the fuel pellets. The alloy precursor pellets independently comprise: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta present in an amount from about 1 to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional alloy constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb.

In one embodiment, an alloy includes: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta in an amount from about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb; and wherein the alloy comprises a ductile phase and a nanoprecipitate hard phase. According to another embodiment, a method of forming an inert matrix nuclear fuel includes: packing a hollow structure with fuel pellets and alloy precursor pellets; heating the fuel pellets and the alloy precursor pellets to at least a melting temperature of an alloy to be formed by melting the alloy precursor pellets; and solidifying the alloy into a matrix surrounding the fuel pellets. The alloy precursor pellets independently comprise: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta present in an amount from about 1 to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional alloy constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb.

Multi-layered nuclear fuel cladding, according to the present invention, comprises: an inner tube of zirconium alloy, of which both ends are open for providing an accommodation space into which a sintered nuclear fuel pellet is inserted; and an outer tube, disposed coaxially with the inner tube, having a greater diameter than the inner tube so as to surround the outer surface of the inner tube, wherein the outer tube and the inner tube are fixed to closely contact each other, and may be formed from metals different from each other.

Multi-layered nuclear fuel cladding, according to the present invention, comprises: an inner tube of zirconium alloy, of which both ends are open for providing an accommodation space into which a sintered nuclear fuel pellet is inserted; and an outer tube, disposed coaxially with the inner tube, having a greater diameter than the inner tube so as to surround the outer surface of the inner tube, wherein the outer tube and the inner tube are fixed to closely contact each other, and may be formed from metals different from each other.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an electrode material (1), wherein the electrode material includes: a center part (2) containing Cu, Cr and a heat resistant element and having superior large-current interruption and capacitor switching capabilities; and an outer circumferential part (3) disposed on an outer circumference of the center part (2). The outer circumferential part (3) contains Cu and Cr and has superior withstand voltage capability. The electrode material (1) is manufactured by molding a solid solution powder of Cr and the heat resistant element, molding a Cr powder integrally around an outer circumference of the molded body of the solid solution powder and infiltrating the integrally molded body with Cu etc.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.