ASTM C859-14b

Standard Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This terminology standard contains terms, definitions, descriptions of terms, nomenclature, and explanations of acronyms and symbols specifically associated with standards under the jurisdiction of Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle. The content of this terminology standard may also be applicable to documents not under the jurisdiction of Committee C26, in which case this terminology standard may be referenced in those documents.  
1.2 While subcommittees within Committee C26 are free to only provide terms and definitions within individual standards, each subcommittee may request the addition of utilized terms and definitions to this terminology standard if it believes that such serves the broader interest of Committee C26 and the nuclear fuel cycle profession. Therefore, terms and definitions proposed for inclusion in Terminology C859 need not be used in more than one committee standard before being considered.  
1.3 In general, technical terms that are defined in common dictionaries would not also be defined in this terminology standard unless there is a need to emphasize a specific definition in making appropriate use of a Committee C26 standard.  
1.4 Subcommittee C26.10 (Nondestructive Assay) also has a terminology standard applicable to its standards: Terminology C1673.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2014
• ICS: 01.040.27 - Energy and heat transfer engineering (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 27.120.30 - Fissile materials and nuclear fuel technology
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.01 - Editorial and Terminology

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: C859 − 14b
Standard Terminology Relating to
1
Nuclear Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C859; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
2 -2
1.1 This terminology standard contains terms, definitions, absorbed dose, D, [L T ], n—absorbed dose is the mean
energy imparted by ionizing radiation to a unit mass of
descriptions of terms, nomenclature, and explanations of acro-
specified material.
nymsandsymbolsspecificallyassociatedwithstandardsunder
DISCUSSION—The SI unit for absorbed dose is the gray (Gy), defined
the jurisdiction of Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle.The
as 1 J/kg.
content of this terminology standard may also be applicable to
documents not under the jurisdiction of Committee C26, in
abundance sensitivity, n—in methods of chemical analysis,
which case this terminology standard may be referenced in
the ratio of the ion beam intensity of the major isotope, M,
those documents. to the background current at the adjacent mass positions.
ion current at mass M
1.2 While subcommittees within Committee C26 are free to
Abundance sensitivity 5 (1)
ion current at M61
only provide terms and definitions within individual standards,
each subcommittee may request the addition of utilized terms
accelerated test, n—forthepredictionoflongtermbehaviorof
and definitions to this terminology standard if it believes that
materials, a test that results in an increase either in the rate
such serves the broader interest of Committee C26 and the
of an alteration mode or in the extent of reaction progress,
nuclear fuel cycle profession. Therefore, terms and definitions
when compared with expected service conditions.
proposed for inclusion in Terminology C859 need not be used DISCUSSION—Changes in the expected alteration mechanism (s)
caused by the accelerated test conditions, if any, must be accounted for
in more than one committee standard before being considered.
in the use of the accelerated test data.
1.3 In general, technical terms that are defined in common
accuracy, n—theclosenessofagreementbetweenameasure-
dictionaries would not also be defined in this terminology
ment result and an accepted reference. (E170)
standard unless there is a need to emphasize a specific
–1
definition in making appropriate use of a Committee C26
activity, A, [T ], n—the measure of the rate of spontaneous
standard.
nucleartransformationsofaradioactivematerial.TheSIunit
for activity is the becquerel (Bq), defined as one transfor-
1.4 Subcommittee C26.10 (Nondestructive Assay) also has
mation per second. The original unit for activity was the
a terminology standard applicable to its standards: Terminol-
10
curie (Ci), defined as 3.7 × 10 transformations per second.
ogy C1673.
alpha radiation, n—is the spontaneous emission of an alpha
particle, composed of two protons and two neutrons with a
2. Referenced Documents
positive charge of plus two, during the nuclear transforma-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tion process.
C1673Terminology of C26.10 NondestructiveAssay Meth-
DISCUSSION—An alpha particle is the same as a helium-4 atom with
ods
no electrons.
alteration, n—any change in the form, state, or properties of
materials.
1
ThisterminologyisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeC26onNuclear
FuelCycleandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeC26.01onEditorialand
alteration layer, n—in materials interaction with water,a
Terminology.
layer of alteration phases at the surface of the specimen.
Current edition approved July 1, 2014. Published August 2014. Originally
DISCUSSION—Several distinct layers may form at the surface and
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as C859–14a. DOI:
within cracks in the material. Layers may be composed of discrete
10.1520/C0859-14B.
2 crystallites.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
alteration mechanism, n—the series of fundamental chemical
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. or physical processes by which alteration occurs.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C859 − 14b
alteration mode, n—for the prediction of long-term behavior beta radiation, n—an electron that was generated in the
of materials, a particular form of alteration, for example: atomic nucleus during decay and has a negative charge of
general corrosion, localized corrosion
...

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: C859 − 14a C859 − 14b
Standard Terminology Relating to
1
Nuclear Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C859; 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 terminology standard contains terms, definitions, descriptions of terms, nomenclature, and explanations of acronyms
and symbols specifically associated with standards under the jurisdiction of Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle. This
terminology The content of this terminology standard may also be applicable to documents not under the jurisdiction of Committee
C26, in which case this terminology standard may be referenced in those documents.
1.2 While subcommittees within Committee C26 are free to only provide terms and definitions within individual standards, each
subcommittee may request the addition of utilized terms and definitions to this terminology standard if it believes that such serves
the broader interest of Committee C26 and the nuclear fuel cycle profession. Therefore, terms and definitions proposed for
inclusion in Terminology C859 need not be used in more than one committee standard before being considered.
1.3 In general, technical terms that are defined in common dictionaries would not also be defined in this terminology standard
unless there is a need to emphasize a specific definition in making appropriate use of a Committee C26 standard.
1.4 Subcommittee C26.10 (Nondestructive Assay) also has a terminology standard applicable to its standards: Terminology
C1673.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C1673 Terminology of C26.10 Nondestructive Assay Methods
3. Terminology
2 -2
absorbed dose, D, [L T ], n—absorbed dose is the mean energy imparted by ionizing radiation to a unit mass of specified
material.
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.01 on Editorial and
Terminology.
Current edition approved June 15, 2014July 1, 2014. Published July 2014August 2014. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as
C859 – 14.C859 – 14a. DOI: 10.1520/C0859-14a.10.1520/C0859-14B.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
DISCUSSION—
The SI unit for absorbed dose is the gray (Gy), defined as 1 J/kg.
abundance sensitivity, n—in methods of chemical analysis, the ratio of the ion beam intensity of the major isotope, M, to the
background current at the adjacent mass positions.
ion current at mass M
Abundance sensitivity 5 (1)
ion current at M61
accelerated test, n—for the prediction of long term behavior of materials, a test that results in an increase either in the rate of an
alteration mode or in the extent of reaction progress, when compared with expected service conditions.
DISCUSSION—
Changes in the expected alteration mechanism (s) caused by the accelerated test conditions, if any, must be accounted for in the use of the accelerated
test data.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C859 − 14b
accuracy, n—the closeness of agreement between a measurement result and an accepted reference. (E170)
–1
activity, A, [T ], n—the measure of the rate of spontaneous nuclear transformations of a radioactive material. The SI unit for
activity is the becquerel (Bq), defined as one transformation per second. The original unit for activity was the curie (Ci), defined
10
as 3.7 × 10 transformations per second.
alpha radiation, n—is the spontaneous emission of an alpha particle, composed of two protons and two neutrons with a positive
charge of plus two, during the nuclear transformation process.
DISCUSSION—
An alpha particle is the same as a helium-4 atom with no electrons.
alteration, n—any change in the form, state, or properties of materials.
alteration layer, n—in materials interaction with water, a layer of alteration phases at the surface of the specimen.
DISCUSSION—
Several distinct layers may form at the surface and within cracks in the material. Layers may be compos
...