zircaloyhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zircaloy_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezircaloy, n.
Revised 2021

zircaloynoun

  1. 1953–
    Any of several alloys of zirconium with tin and other metals, used chiefly as cladding for nuclear fuel rods. Frequently with following numeral specifying a particular alloy.
    1. 1953
      This 2.5 wt % tin alloy is now referred to as Zircaloy 1.
      J. W. Holladay et al., Core Shape of Fuel Elements Clad with Zirconium Alloy (Battelle Memorial Inst.) 9
    2. 1963
      Zircaloy resists corrosion very well in high-temperature water and steam.
      H. R. Clauser, Encyclopedia of Engineering Materials 769/1
    3. 1977
      Zircaloy is used to designate a series of zirconium, tin, iron, chromium, nickel alloys developed by the U.S. Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program for nuclear service in water-cooled reactors. Zircaloy-1 and Zircaloy-3 are obsolete. Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 are the most commonly used alloys in nuclear service.
      J. H. Schemel, ASTM Manual Zirconium & Hafnium (ASTM Special Technical Publ. No. 639) i. 6
    4. 2017
      PWRs [= pressurized water reactors] traditionally use Zircaloy-4 for the fuel cladding.
      B. J. Lewis et al., Fund. Nuclear Engin. iv. 197

zircaloy, n. was revised in March 2021.

zircaloy, n. was last modified in July 2023.