An apparatus for producing metal sheets from extruded profiles of small thickness or of hollow chamber plates of light metal, preferably of magnesium or magnesium alloys, comprises an extruder for producing an extruded profile which is open along a surface line. A separating device is provided for cutting the extruded profile to length corresponding to the length of the metal sheet to be produced, or the hollow chamber plate to be produced. A bending unit is used for deforming the extruded profile into a U-shaped profile. An expansion unit is provided for expanding the U-shaped profile into a flat metal sheet or a hollow chamber plate. A stacking unit is also provided. At least one expansion unit is arranged parallel to the extrusion line and thus the extrusion and expanding processes are decoupled from one another.

An apparatus for producing metal sheets from extruded profiles of small thickness or of hollow chamber plates of light metal, preferably of magnesium or magnesium alloys, comprises an extruder for producing an extruded profile which is open along a surface line. A separating device is provided for cutting the extruded profile to length corresponding to the length of the metal sheet to be produced, or the hollow chamber plate to be produced. A bending unit is used for deforming the extruded profile into a U-shaped profile. An expansion unit is provided for expanding the U-shaped profile into a flat metal sheet or a hollow chamber plate. A stacking unit is also provided. At least one expansion unit is arranged parallel to the extrusion line and thus the extrusion and expanding processes are decoupled from one another.

This disclosure describes various configurations and components for bimetallic and trimetallic claddings for use as a wall element separating nuclear material from an external environment. The cladding materials are suitable for use as cladding for nuclear fuel elements, particularly for fuel elements that will be exposed to sodium or other coolants or environments with a propensity to react with the nuclear fuel.

A method of producing a clad billet includes inserting a solid carbon or low-alloy steel (CS) material into a hollow interior of the slightly larger diameter (CRA) cylinder so that a standoff gap is provided between an outer surface of the (CS) material and the inner diameter of the (CRA) cylinder; providing an explosive material around the (CRA) cylinder; detonating the explosive material to collapse at least the inner diameter of the corrosion resistant alloy cylinder onto the outer surface of the solid carbon or low-alloy steel material and eliminate the standoff gap, creating at least a partial metallurgical bond at an interface with the outer surface and resulting in a composite billet assembly, and extruding the composite billet assembly to reduce its size and form the clad billet having a metallurgical bond between the (CS) material and the (CRA) cylinder.

A method of producing a clad billet includes inserting a solid carbon or low-alloy steel (CS) material into a hollow interior of the slightly larger diameter (CRA) cylinder so that a standoff gap is provided between an outer surface of the (CS) material and the inner diameter of the (CRA) cylinder; providing an explosive material around the (CRA) cylinder; detonating the explosive material to collapse at least the inner diameter of the corrosion resistant alloy cylinder onto the outer surface of the solid carbon or low-alloy steel material and eliminate the standoff gap, creating at least a partial metallurgical bond at an interface with the outer surface and resulting in a composite billet assembly, and extruding the composite billet assembly to reduce its size and form the clad billet having a metallurgical bond between the (CS) material and the (CRA) cylinder.

Shear assisted extrusion processes (ShAPE) for forming Metal-NCCF extrusions are provided. The processes can include: using a die tool, applying a rotational shearing force and an axial extrusion force to a feedstock material comprising a metal and NCCF (NanoCrystalline Carbon Films); and extruding a mixture comprising the metal and NCCF through an opening in the die tool to form the Metal-NCCF extrusion. ShAPE feedstock materials are provided that can include a metal and NCCF. Conductive solid material mixtures are provided that can include a metal and a NCCF. Portions of the metals and NCCF of the material mixtures can have an isotropic crystallographic orientation. Assemblies relying in part on conductivity can include: a conductive solid material mixture that includes: a metal; and a NCCF.

A shear assisted extrusion process for producing cladded materials wherein a cladding material and a material to be cladded are placed in sequence with the cladded material positioned to contact a rotating scroll face first and the material to be cladded second. The two materials are fed through a shear assisted extrusion device at a preselected feed rate and impacted by a rotating scroll face to generate a cladded extrusion product. This process allows for increased through wall strength and decreases the brittleness in formed structures as compared to the prior art.

A shear assisted extrusion process for producing cladded materials wherein a cladding material and a material to be cladded are placed in sequence with the cladded material positioned to contact a rotating scroll face first and the material to be cladded second. The two materials are fed through a shear assisted extrusion device at a preselected feed rate and impacted by a rotating scroll face to generate a cladded extrusion product. This process allows for increased through wall strength and decreases the brittleness in formed structures as compared to the prior art.

This disclosure describes various configurations and components for bimetallic and trimetallic claddings for use as a wall element separating nuclear material from an external environment. The cladding materials are suitable for use as cladding for nuclear fuel elements, particularly for fuel elements that will be exposed to sodium or other coolants or environments with a propensity to react with the nuclear fuel.

A method of producing a clad billet includes heating a corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) cylinder having a hollow interior to expand its inner diameter; inserting a solid carbon or low-alloy steel (CS) material into the hollow interior of the heated (CRA) cylinder so that an outer surface of the (CS) material faces the inner diameter of the (CRA) cylinder; cooling the (CRA) cylinder to contract and shrink the inner diameter of the (CRA) cylinder onto the outer surface of the (CS) material creating an interference fit at an interface with the outer surface, resulting in a composite billet assembly; and hot extruding the composite billet assembly to reduce its size and form the clad billet having a metallurgical bond between the (CS) material and the (CRA) cylinder. The clad billet can be hot-rolled to form metallurgically-bonded clad bar, or can be cold pilgered/cold drawn to form a metallurgically-bonded clad pipe.