Zircaloy

[ zur-kuh-loi ]

Trademark.

1. any of several alloys of zirconium with tin or other metals, used in structural elements or tubing in nuclear reactors.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Zircaloy¹

First recorded in 1955–60; zirc(onium) + al(l)oy

Example Sentences

As the temperature rose around the core, the zircaloy cladding on the fuel rods began to react with the steam, oxidizing and releasing hydrogen.

From Science Magazine

Spent fuel recently discharged from a reactor could heat up relatively rapidly to temperatures at which the zircaloy fuel cladding could catch fire and the fuel's volatile fission product, including 30-year half-life Cs, would be released.

From Time

The temperature of the nuclear reactor's core fuel shoots up, melting its zircaloy shielding.

From Time Magazine Archive

Housed in a pressure-cooker-like reactor vessel, the core is filled with pellets of fissionable uranium packed in bundles of thin cylindrical zircaloy rods.

From Time Magazine Archive

Essentially, these wastes are used-up nuclear fuel in the form of long, needle-like rods encased in zircaloy metal sheaths.

From Time Magazine Archive