Zircaloy cladding: Tough Containment for Spent Fuel Storage

The present work leads us to strongly believe that if the cladding temperature is held below 425/sup 0/C then the cladding provides a significant barrier against radionuclide migration for over 1000 years. Unless some alternative benefit is identified, we feel that steps should be taken to preserve the integrity of the Zircaloy cladding - Tough Containment for Spent Fuel Storage.