This article on Buzzflash by Investigative reporter and Journalism professor, Karl Grossman set me to research references for the outrageous claims. The Insanity of Zirconium in a Nuclear Power Plant I haven’t been able to verify that the Zirconium alloy tubes cladding the reaction pellets will explode at 2000F, but I have found these links:

• Zirconium is used because it is relatively transparent to neutrons, and is corrosion resistant under normal operating conditions.
• Finely slivered zirconium wire was what gave the pop and flash to old fashioned flash bulbs.
• But Massive pieces of zirconium do not ignite spontaneously under ordinary conditions
• Zirconium’s melting point is 3371 °F and boiling point is 7968 °F
• “Hydrogen embrittlement is a problem with zirconium and zirconium alloys, which often are used as cladding materials for nuclear reactors. Zirconium reacts with water as follows.Zr + 2 H2O ® ZrO2 + 2H2″­ That is, it makes the cladding brittle and produces explosive Hydrogen in the reaction.
• Partial melting can solidify and block cooling channels, leading to more melting and higher temperatures if adequate cooling isn’t present.
• Diary on the Daily Kos exploring the same issues with the fuel rods.

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