Fuel cladding tube

A fuel cladding tube comprises a zirconium alloy to which fine ceramic particles are added. As the fine ceramic particles to be added, fine zirconia (ZrO2) particles are preferred. If the grain size of the fine zirconia particles is great, mechanical properties of the products when they are fabricated to the cladding tube are degraded, and according, it is preferred that the grain size is not greater than about 1μm, and more preferably, not greater than 0.1μm. The mixing ratio of the fine zirconia particles and the zirconium alloy is preferably from 0.1 to 5wt% of the fine zirconia particles. In addition, it is preferred that the grain size of the zirconium alloy powder upon forming a dispersed type zirconium alloy by powder metallurgy is about several tens μm. With such procedures, a fuel cladding tube having sufficient strength under severe conditions and capable of sealing fuels and fissile products reliably and safely can be obtained. (I.N.)