ASTM B614-16

Standard Practice for Descaling and Cleaning Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy Surfaces

ABSTRACT
This practice covers a cleaning and de-scaling procedure useful to producers, users, and fabricators of zirconium and zirconium alloys for the removal of ordinary shop soils, oxides, and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign substances present as surface contaminants. Grease, oil, and lubricants employed in machining, forming, and fabricating operations on zirconium and zirconium alloys should be removed by employing one of the methods or a combination of methods: alkaline or emulsion soak-type cleaners, ultrasonic cleaning, acetone, citrus based cleaners, or safety solvent immersion washing or vapor degreasing, or electrolytic alkaline cleaning system. Mechanical de-scaling methods such as sandblasting, shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot work scales and lubricants from zirconium surfaces if followed by thorough conditioning and cleaning. Aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silica sand, zircon sand, and steel grit are acceptable media for mechanical de-scaling. Recommended post treatment of shot or abrasive blasted zirconium surfaces may include acid pickling to ensure complete removal of metallic iron, oxide, scale, and other surface contaminants. Visual inspection of material cleaned in accordance with this practice should show no evidence of paint, oil, grease, glass, graphite, lubricant, scale, abrasive, iron, or other forms of contamination.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a cleaning and descaling procedure useful to producers, users, and fabricators of zirconium and zirconium alloys for the removal of ordinary shop soils, oxides, and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign substances present as surface contaminants.  
1.2 It is not intended that these procedures become mandatory for removal of any of the indicated soils but rather serve as a guide when zirconium and zirconium alloys are being processed in the wrought, cast, or fabricated form.  
1.3 It is the intent that these soils be removed prior to chemical milling, joining, plating, welding, fabrication, and in any situation where foreign substances interfere with the corrosion resistance, stability, and quality of the finished product.  
1.4 Unless a single unit is used, for example, solution concentrations in g/l, the values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. SI values cannot be mixed with inch-pound values.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Sections 3 and 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2016
• ICS: 77.150.99 - Other products of non-ferrous metals
• Technical Committee: B10 - Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B10.02 - Zirconium and Hafnium

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: B614 − 16
Standard Practice for
Descaling and Cleaning Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy
1
Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B614; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Processing Soil Removal
3.1 Grease, oil, and lubricants employed in machining,
1.1 This practice covers a cleaning and descaling procedure
forming, and fabricating operations on zirconium and zirco-
useful to producers, users, and fabricators of zirconium and
nium alloys should be removed by employing one of the
zirconiumalloysfortheremovalofordinaryshopsoils,oxides,
methods or a combination of methods as listed: (1) alkaline or
and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign
emulsion soak-type cleaners, (2) ultrasonic cleaning, (3)
substances present as surface contaminants.
acetone, citrus based cleaners, or safety solvent immersion
1.2 It is not intended that these procedures become manda-
washing or vapor degreasing, or (4) electrolytic alkaline
tory for removal of any of the indicated soils but rather serve
cleaning system. In the electrolytic system, the work can be
as a guide when zirconium and zirconium alloys are being
either anodic or cathodic polarity provided voltage and current
processed in the wrought, cast, or fabricated form.
density are controlled to avoid anodizing. Removal of these
1.3 It is the intent that these soils be removed prior to soils is recommended prior to heat treatment or application of
acid treatment designated in Section 5. When electrolytic
chemical milling, joining, plating, welding, fabrication, and in
systems are employed, the voltage should be controlled to
any situation where foreign substances interfere with the
prevent the occurrence of spark discharge and subsequent
corrosion resistance, stability, and quality of the finished
pitting. The use of trichloroethylene is not prohibited and can
product.
be used; however its use is hazardous enough to preclude it as
1.4 Unless a single unit is used, for example, solution
a recommended solvent in this standard. Care must be exer-
concentrations in g/l, the values stated in either inch-pound or
cised when using chemical solvents. There are hazards associ-
SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values
ated with their use, such as flammability, carcinogenicity, and
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each
ozone depletion (see 7.1.)
system must be used independently of the other. SI values
cannot be mixed with inch-pound values.
4. Blast Cleaning
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 Mechanical descaling methods such as sandblasting,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
work scales and lubricants from zirconium surfaces if followed
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
by thorough conditioning and cleaning as described in Section
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
5.
statements, see Sections 3 and 7.
4.2 Aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silica sand, zircon
sand, and steel grit are acceptable media for mechanical
2. Referenced Documents
descaling.Periodicreplacementofusedmediamayberequired
2.1 NFPA Standard:
to avoid excessive working of the metal surface by dull
2
NFPA 484 Standard for Combustible Metals
particulate.
4.3 Roughening of exposed surface areas may occur from
grit or shot if cleaning of the entire surface is accomplished by
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 on Reactive
blasting. Partial cleaning for preserving the surface finish is to
and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
be preferred in conjunction with proper pickling procedures.
B10.02 on Zirconium and Hafnium.
Current edition approved May 1, 2016. Published May 2016. Originally
4.4 Any abrasive or shot blast cleaning may induce residual
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as B614 – 10. DOI:
compressivestressesinthesurfaceofthematerialorzirconium
10.1520/B0614-16.
2
structure. Warpage may occur in sections that are subsequently
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
Park, Quincy, MA 02269, http://www.nfpa.org. chemical milled or contour machined.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B614 − 1
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B614 − 10 B614 − 16
Standard Practice for
Descaling and Cleaning Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy
1
Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B614; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers a cleaning and descaling procedure useful to producers, users, and fabricators of zirconium and
zirconium alloys for the removal of ordinary shop soils, oxides, and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign
substances present as surface contaminants.
1.2 It is not intended that these procedures become mandatory for removal of any of the indicated soils but rather serve as a
guide when zirconium and zirconium alloys are being processed in the wrought, cast, or fabricated form.
1.3 It is the intent that these soils be removed prior to chemical milling, joining, plating, welding, fabrication, and in any
situation where foreign substances interfere with the corrosion resistance, stability, and quality of the finished product.
1.4 Unless a single unit is used, for example, solution concentrations in g/l, the values stated in either inch-pound or SI units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must
be used independently of the other. SI values cannot be mixed with inch-pound values.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Sections 23 and 67.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 NFPA Standard:
2
NFPA 484 Standard for Combustible Metals
3. Processing Soil Removal
3.1 Grease, oil, and lubricants employed in machining, forming, and fabricating operations on zirconium and zirconium alloys
should be removed by employing one of the methods or a combination of methods as listed: (1) alkaline or emulsion soak-type
cleaners, (2) ultrasonic cleaning, (3) acetone, citrus based cleaners, or safety solvent immersion washing or vapor degreasing, or
(4) electrolytic alkaline cleaning system. In the electrolytic system, the work can be either anodic or cathodic polarity provided
voltage and current density are controlled to avoid anodizing. Removal of these soils is recommended prior to heat treatment or
application of acid treatment designated in Section 45. When electrolytic systems are employed, the voltage should be controlled
to prevent the occurrence of spark discharge and subsequent pitting. The use of trichloroethylene is not prohibited and can be used;
however its use is hazardous enough to preclude it as a recommended solvent in this standard. Care must be exercised when using
chemical solvents. There are hazards associated with their use, such as flammability, carcinogenicity, and ozone depletion (see
6.17.1.)
4. Blast Cleaning
4.1 Mechanical descaling methods such as sandblasting, shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot work
scales and lubricants from zirconium surfaces if followed by thorough conditioning and cleaning as described in Section 45.
4.2 Aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silica sand, zircon sand, and steel grit are acceptable media for mechanical descaling.
Periodic replacement of used media may be required to avoid excessive working of the metal surface by dull particulate.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 on Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B10.02
on Zirconium and Hafnium.
Current edition approved May 1, 2010May 1, 2016. Published May 2010May 2016. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 20052010 as
B614 – 05.B614 – 10. DOI: 10.1520/B0614-10.10.1520/B0614-16.
2
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269, http://www.nfpa.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B614 − 16
4.3 Roughening of exposed surface areas may occur from grit or shot if cleaning of the entire surface is accomp
...