Light water reactor(LWR) is a majority type of nuclear power reactor in the world.Zirconium alloysare the key structural materials and functional materials forLWR power used as the cladding materials of fuel elements and other structural materials，because of low neutron absorption, good corrosion resistance, and good mechanical properties, With the development of nuclear power technology, the higher performance requirements on the cladding material, this paper reviews the research and application of nuclear zirconium alloy cladding and the research and development of new SiC cladding materials.