Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Boron carbide is used as a control material in nuclear reactors. In order to be suitable for this purpose, the material must meet certain criteria for assay, isotopic composition, and impurity content. These methods are designed to show whether or not a given material meets the specifications for these items as described in Specifications C 750 and C 751.
3.1.1 An assay is performed to determine whether the material has the specified boron content.
3.1.2 Determination of the isotopic content of the boron is made to establish whether the content is in compliance with the purchaser’specifications.
3.1.3 Impurity content is determined to ensure that the maximum concentration limit of certain impurity elements is not exceeded.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the chemical, mass spectrometric, and spectrochemical analysis of nuclear-grade boron carbide powder and pellets to determine compliance with specifications.
1.2 The analytical procedures appear in the following order:SectionsTotal Carbon by Combustion and Gravimetry7-17Total Boron by Titrimetry18-28Isotopic Composition by Mass Spectrometry29-38Chloride and Fluoride Separation by Pyrohydrolysis39-45Chloride by Constant-Current Coulometry46-54Fluoride by Ion-Selective Electrode55-63Water by Constant-Voltage Coulometry64-72Impurities by Spectrochemical Analysis73-81Soluble Boron by Titrimetry82-95Soluble Carbon by a Manometric Measurement96-105Metallic Impurities by a Direct Reader Spectrometric Method106-114

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Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-May-2004
Current Stage
Ref Project

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: C791 – 04
Standard Test Methods for
Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical
1
Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C791; 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. Significance and Use
1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the chemical, 3.1 Boron carbide is used as a control material in nuclear
mass spectrometric, and spectrochemical analysis of nuclear- reactors. In order to be suitable for this purpose, the material
grade boron carbide powder and pellets to determine compli- must meet certain criteria for assay, isotopic composition, and
ance with specifications. impuritycontent.Thesemethodsaredesignedtoshowwhether
1.2 Theanalyticalproceduresappearinthefollowingorder: or not a given material meets the specifications for these items
as described in Specifications C750 and C751.
Sections
Total Carbon by Combustion and Gravimetry 7-17
3.1.1 An assay is performed to determine whether the
Total Boron by Titrimetry 18-28
material has the specified boron content.
Isotopic Composition by Mass Spectrometry 29-38
3.1.2 Determination of the isotopic content of the boron is
Chloride and Fluoride Separation by Pyrohydrolysis 39-45
Chloride by Constant-Current Coulometry 46-54
madetoestablishwhetherthecontentisincompliancewiththe
Fluoride by Ion-Selective Electrode 55-63
purchaser’s specifications.
Water by Constant-Voltage Coulometry 64-72
Impurities by Spectrochemical Analysis 73-81 3.1.3 Impurity content is determined to ensure that the
Soluble Boron by Titrimetry 82-95
maximum concentration limit of certain impurity elements is
Soluble Carbon by a Manometric Measurement 96-105
not exceeded.
Metallic Impurities by a Direct Reader Spectrometric 106-114
Method
4. Reagents
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
C750 Specification for Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide Pow-
all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit-
der
tee onAnalytical Reagents of theAmerican Chemical Society,
4
C751 Specification for Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide Pel-
where such specifications are available. Other grades may be
lets
used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening the
E115 PracticeforPhotographicProcessinginOpticalEmis-
accuracy of the determination.
3
sion Spectrographic Analysis
4.2 PurityofWater—Unlessotherwiseindicated,references
E116 Practice for Photographic Photometry in Spectro-
towatershallbeunderstoodtomeanreagentwaterconforming
3
chemical Analysis
to Specification D1193.
E130 Practice for Designation of Shapes and Sizes of
5. Safety Precautions
Graphite Electrodes
5.1 Many laboratories have established safety regulations
governing the use of hazardous chemicals and equipment.The
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on
users of these methods should be familiar with such safety
Nuclear Fuel Cycle and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.03 on
Neutron Absorber Materials Specifications. practices.
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2004.PublishedJuly2004.Originallyapproved
in 1975. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as C791–83(2000) DOI:
10.1520/C0791-04.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not
the ASTM website. listed by the American Chemical Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory
3
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced Chemicals,BDHLtd.,Poole,Dorset,U.K.andtheUnitedStatesPharmacopeiaand
on www.astm.org. NationalFormulary,U.S.PharmacopeialConvention,Inc.(USPC),Rockville,MD.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C791 – 04
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6. Sampling 10.6.2 Drying Tube (B), filled with magnesium perchlo-
16
rate,anhydrouscalciumsulfate,andsodiumhydrate-asbestos
6.1 Criteria for sampling this material are given in Specifi-
to prevent any back-diffusion of water and carbon dioxide into
cations C750 and C751.
the absorption bulb.
17
10.6.3 Flowmete
...

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