ASTM B811-97

Standard Specification for Wrought Zirconium Alloy Seamless Tubes for Nuclear Reactor Fuel Cladding

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers seamless wrought zirconium-alloy tubes for nuclear fuel cladding application, in the outside diameter (OD) size range of 0.200 in. (5.1 mm) to 0.650 in. (16.5 mm) and wall thickness range of 0.010 in. (0.25 mm) to 0.035 in. (0.89 mm).
1.2 Two grades of reactor grade zirconium alloys are described.
1.2.1 The present UNS numbers designated for the two grades are given in Table 1.
1.3 Unless a single unit is used, for example corrosion mass gain in mg/dm2, 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.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portions of this specification: 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-2001
• ICS: 23.040.15 - Non-ferrous metal pipes
• Technical Committee: B10 - Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B10.02 - Zirconium and Hafnium

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM B811-01 - Standard Specification for Wrought Zirconium Alloy Seamless Tubes for Nuclear Reactor Fuel Cladding
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM B353-12(2022)e1 - Standard Specification for Wrought Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy Seamless and Welded Tubes for Nuclear Service (Except Nuclear Fuel Cladding)
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: B 811 – 97
Standard Specification for
Wrought Zirconium Alloy Seamless Tubes for Nuclear
Reactor Fuel Cladding
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 811; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
TABLE 1 ASTM and UNS Number Designation for Reactor Grade
1. Scope
Zirconium Alloys
1.1 This specification covers seamless wrought zirconium-
Grade UNS Number
alloy tubes for nuclear fuel cladding application, in the outside
Zirconium-tin alloy R60802
diameter (OD) size range of 0.200 in. (5.1 mm) to 0.650 in. Zirconium-tin alloy R60804
(16.5 mm) and wall thickness range of 0.010 in. (0.25 mm) to
0.035 in. (0.89 mm).
E 112 Test Methods for Determining the Average Grain
1.2 Two grades of reactor grade zirconium alloys are
Size
described.
G 2 Test Method for Corrosion Testing of Products of
1.2.1 The present UNS numbers designated for the two
Zirconium, Hafnium and Their Alloys in Water at 680°F or
grades are given in Table 1.
in Steam at 750°F
1.3 Unless a single unit is used, for example corrosion mass
G 2M Test Method for Corrosion Testing of Products of
gain in mg/dm , the values stated in either inch-pound or SI
Zirconium, Hafnium and Their Alloys in Water at 633°K
units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values
or in Steam at 673°K (Metric)
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore each
2.2 Other Document:
system must be used independently of the other. SI values
ANSI B46.1 Surface Texture (Surface Roughness)
cannot be mixed with inch-pound values.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
3. Terminology
test method portions of this specification: This standard does
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
3.1.1 dimensions—tube dimensions are outside diameter,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
inside diameter, and wall thickness. Only two of these param-
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices
eters may be specified in addition to length, except minimum
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
wall may be specified with outside and inside diameter. In each
to use.
case, ovality and wall thickness variation (WTV) may be
specified as additional requirements.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.2 hydride orientation fraction, Fn—the ratio of hydride
2.1 ASTM Standards:
platelets oriented in the radial direction to the total hydride
B 350 Specification for Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy
platelets in the field examined.
Ingots for Nuclear Application
3.1.3 lot size—a lot shall consist of all tubes of the same
B 353 Specification for Wrought Zirconium and Zirconium
size, shape, condition, and finish produced from the same ingot
Alloy Seamless and Welded Tubes for Nuclear Service
by the same reduction schedule and heat treatment. The final
E 8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
heat treatment shall be in a single furnace charge.
E 21 Test Methods for Elevated Temperature Tension Tests
3.1.4 mill finish tubes—tubes that have received all finish-
of Metallic Materials
ing operations subsequent to final anneal, which potentially
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
affects tube mechanical, dimensional, or surface condition.
Determine Conformance with Specifications
These operations include, but are not limited to, pickling,
cleaning, outer and inner surface abrasive conditioning, and
straightening.
1 3.1.5 ovality—the difference between the maximum and
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-10 on
Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of minimum diameter, either outer or inner, as determined at any
Subcommittee B10.02 on Zirconium and Hafnium.
one transverse cross-section of the tube.
Current edition approved June 10, 1997. Published February 1998. Originally
published as B 811 – 90. Last previous edition B 811 – 90.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.04.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.02.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
B811
3.1.6 wall thickness variation (WTV)—the difference be- technique (Annex A1).
tween maximum and minimum wall thickness measured at any 4.2.9 Contractile strain ratio acceptance criteria, when
one transverse cross-section of the tube. specified (Section 7.3 and Annex A4).
NOTE 1—Measurement of ovality and WTV made by a helical scan
5. Materials and Manufacture
with a pitch not exceeding 0.25 in. (6.5 mm) shall be considered as
5.1 Tubes covered by this specification shall be made from
equivalent to “at any one cross-section of the tube.”
ingots produced by multiple vacuum arc or electron beam
4. Ordering Information
melting in furnaces of a type conventionally used for reactive
4.1 Purchase orders for tubes covered in this specification
materials.
shall include the following information to describe adequately
5.2 Tubes shall be made by a process approved by the
the desired material:
purchaser.
4.1.1 Quantity,
6. Chemical Composition
4.1.2 Grade (see Table 1),
4.1.3 Condition (recrystallization annealed or stress relief
6.1 The tubes shall conform to the requirements for chemi-
annealed),
cal composition prescribed in Table 2.
4.1.4 Tube dimensions and tolerance,
6.2 Chemical Analysis:
4.1.5 ASTM designation and year of issue,
6.2.1 The ingot analysis made in accordance with Specifi-
4.1.6 Surface texture on (roughness) the inside and outside
cation B 350 shall be considered the chemical analysis for
surfaces (R (micro-inches or micrometers)),
tubes produced to this specification except for oxygen, hydro-
a
4.1.7 Surface condition on the inside diameter (ID) and
gen, and nitrogen content, which shall be determined on the
outside diameter (OD) surfaces (as pickled, blasted, abraded,
mill finished tube. Alternatively, an intermediate or final size
etc.),
product may be sampled during processing with the same
4.1.8 Sample test conditions (if other than mill finish
frequency and in the same positions relative to the ingot as
condition) and standards for corrosion test (see 8.2),
specified in Specification B 350 to determine the composition,
4.1.9 Hydride orientation specimen heat treatment, if re-
except for hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, which shall be
quired, evaluation method, and magnification of photomicro-
determined on the mill finished tube.
graph (see Annex A2),
6.2.2 Analysis shall be made using the manufacturer’s
4.1.10 General test requirements and test plan for lots (see
standard methods. In the event of disagreement as to the
Section 10),
chemical composition of the metal, the composition, for referee
4.1.11 Number of tests and resampling plan and require-
purposes, shall be determined by a mutually acceptable labo-
ments (see Section 11), and
ratory.
4.1.12 Certification of test (see Section 16).
NOTE 2—A typical order description may read as follows: 1500 pieces
TABLE 2 Chemical Requirements
of seamless zirconium-alloy fuel clad tubes OD abraded and ID pickled,
UNS Number UNS Number
Element
Grade R60804, recrystallization annealed 0.650 in. nominal OD by 0.580
R60802 R60804
in. nominal ID by 0.032 in. minimum wall by 10 ft long with a maximum
Composition, Weight %:
OD ovality of 0.004 in. and maximum WTV of 0.005 in. in accordance
Tin 1.20 to 1.70 1.20 to 1.70
with B 811 – XX. Maximum surface finish to be 50 μin. Ra OD and 50
Iron 0.07 to 0.20 0.18 to 0.24
μin. Ra ID.
Chromium 0.05 to 0.15 0.07 to 0.13
Nickel 0.03 to 0.08 . . .
4.2 In addition to the information in 4.1, the following
Oxygen 0.09 to 0.16 0.09 to 0.16
points of agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser
Iron plus chromium plus 0.18 to 0.38 . . .
Nickel
should be specified in the purchase order as required:
Iron plus chromium . . . 0.28 to 0.37
4.2.1 Method of determining yield strength if other than
0.2 % offset method (see Section 7),
Maximum Impurities, Weight %:
Aluminum 0.0075 0.0075
4.2.2 Initial gage length of mechanical test samples for
Boron 0.00005 0.00005
determining elongation after rupture if other than 2 in. (50
Cadmium 0.00005 0.00005
mm), Calcium 0.0030 0.0030
Carbon 0.027 0.027
4.2.3 Mechanical property requirements for tube other than
Cobalt 0.0020 0.0020
fully recrystallization annealed (see Section 7),
Copper 0.0050 0.0050
4.2.4 Location of the inside diameter plugs in elevated Hafnium 0.010 0.010
Hydrogen 0.0025 0.0025
temperature short-time tension test, when specified (see 7.1.3),
Magnesium 0.0020 0.0020
4.2.5 Specimen temperature(s) during mechanical testing if
Manganese 0.0050 0.0050
other than room temperature and properties and test require-
Molybdenum 0.0050 0.0050
Nickel . . . 0.0070
ments (see Section 7), and
Niobium 0.0100 0.0100
4.2.6 Grain size requirements and specimen heat treatment
Nitrogen 0.0080 0.0080
method for stress relief annealed tubes (see 8.1), Silicon 0.0120 0.0120
Tungsten 0.0100 0.0100
4.2.7 Burst property acceptance requirements, when speci-
Titanium 0.0050 0.0050
fied (Section 8.4),
Uranium (Total) 0.00035 0.00035
4.2.8 Use of mandrel and post burst test measurement
B811
TABLE 4 Mechanical Properties of Recrystallization Annealed
6.2.3 Product Analysis—Product analysis is a check analy-
A
Tubes Tested at Room Temperature
sis made by the purchaser for the purpose of verifying the
UNS Numbers
composition of the lot. The permissible variation in the product
R60802 and R60804
analysis from the specification range is as listed in Table 3.
Tension Test Properties (Longitudinal Direction):
Yield Strength (0.2 % Offset), min 35 ksi (240 MPa)
7. Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength, min 60 ksi (415 MPa)
Elongation, min %, 2 in. (50 mm) initial gage length 20
7.1 Tension Properties:
7.1.1 Recrystallization annealed tubes shall conform to the
Burst Test Properties:
requirements for mechanical properties at room temperature Ultimate Hoop Strength, min 72.6 ksi (500 MPa)
Percent Total Circumferential Elongation (% TCE), 20
prescribed in Table 4. For tubes in the cold worked and stress
min
relief annealed condition, tension property requirements are to
A
“RT” represents room temperature; Note 4 in Test Methods E 8 and E 8M
be mutually agreed upon between the manufacturer and the
indicates that RT shall be considered to be 50 to 100°F (10 to 38°C) unless
purchaser.
otherwise specified. Paragraph 9.4.4 in Test Methods E 21 states that for the
duration of the test, the difference between the indicated temperature and the
7.1.2 When so specified by the purchaser, the tension
nominal test temperature is not to exceed 65°F (3°C) for tests at 1800°F (1000°C)
properties shall also be determined at the elevated temperatures
and lower, and 610°F (6°C) for tests at higher temperatures.
and shall conform to the limits specified by the purchaser.
7.1.3 The tension test shall be conducted in accordance with
7.3.1 When so specified by the purchaser, the contractile
Test Methods E 8 or Practice E 21. Yield strength shall be
strain ratio (CSR) shall be determined at room temperature and
determined by the 0.2 % offset method. The tension properties
shall conform to limits that are mutually agreed upon between
shall be determined using a strain rate of 0.003 to 0.007
the manufacturer and purchaser.
in./in.-min (mm/mm-min) through the yield strength. After the
7.3.2 Contractile strain ratio testing shall be conducted in
yield strength has been exceeded, the cross head speed may be
accordance with Annex A4.
increased to approximately 0.05 in./in.-min (mm/mm-min) to
NOTE 4—Contractile strain ratio testing was the subject of a 1993 round
failure.
robin conducted by ASTM Subcommittee B10.02 using specimens with
7.2 Burst Testing:
diameter approximately 0.4 in. (10 mm). The variability was relatively
7.2.1 Burst testing, when specified, shall be performed at
large and should be considered in setting specific limits. The following
room temperature on finished tubing. Recrystallization an-
two-sigma limits were determined as an estimate of the test precision:
60.16 for samples with a CSR of 1.68, and 60.22 for samples with a CSR
nealed tubes shall conform to the requirements for burst
of 2.53.
properties at room temperature prescribed in Table 4. If burst
test is specified for cold worked and stress relief annealed
8. Other Requirements
tubes, the acceptance criteria shall be agreed upon between the
8.1 Grain Size—The average grain size of recrystallization
manufacturer and the purchaser.
annealed tubes in the longitudinal section shall be equal to
7.2.2 If elevated temperature burst test is specified, the test
ASTM micrograin Size No. 7 or finer when determined in
method and acceptance criteria shall be agreed upon between
accordance with Test Methods E 112. When specified per 4.2.6,
the manufacturer and purchaser.
the average grain size of stress relief annealed tubes shall meet
NOTE 3—Burst properties obtained at room temperature were the
the requirements as agreed upon between manufacturer and
subject of a 1971 round robin conducted by ASTM subcommittee
purchaser.
B10.02. Variability in values was relatively large and should be consid-
8.2 Corrosion Properties:
ered in setting specific limits.
8.2.1 A corrosion test in steam shall be performed in
7.3 Contractile Strain Ratio (CSR):
accordance with Test Method G 2 or its metric companion Test
Method G 2M. The specimens tested shall be representative of
the mill finish condition unless otherwise stated by the pur-
7 chaser.
STP 551, “Zirconium in Nuclear Applications,” ASTM, 1974, pp. 14–28.
8.2.2 Acceptance Criteria:
8.2.2.1 Mass Gain—Specimens shall exhibit a mass gain of
TABLE 3 Permissible Variation in Product Analysis
2 2
not more than 2.2 g/m in a 72-h test or 3.8 g/m in a 336-h test.
Permissible Variation from
8.2.2.2 Post-Test Visual Appearance—Mill finish specimens
the Specification Range
(Table 2), %
shall be free of white or brown corrosion products in excess of
Alloying Elements: the acceptance standards mutually agreed between the manu-
Tin 0.050
facturer and the purchaser. Specimens etched per Test Method
Iron 0.020
G 2 or Test Method G 2M (if stated by the purchaser) shall
Chromium 0.010
exhibit a continuous black lustrous oxide film and shall be free
Nickel 0.0
...