ASTM B494/B494M-08(2014)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Primary Zirconium
Standard Specification for Primary Zirconium
ABSTRACT
This specification covers two grades (Grade R60702 and Grade R60703) of zirconium metal commonly designated as sponge or chunklets, but may also take other forms. This specification does not include crystal bar zirconium. This sponge is used in non-nuclear applications. Zirconium metal is usually prepared by reduction of zirconium tetrachloride, and it gets its physical characteristics from the processes involved in production. These characteristics may be expected to vary greatly with manufacturing methods. This specification, however, is not limited to metal prepared by reduction of tetrachloride or to material of any specific physical form. Only virgin zirconium metal, in identified, uniform, well-mixed blends, shall be supplied under this specification. The material shall conform to the chemical composition requirements for zirconium, hafnium, iron, chromium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen. The material shall be subjected to a number of chemical tests as required in this specification.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers two grades of zirconium metal commonly designated as sponge or chunklets, but may also take other forms. This specification does not include crystal bar zirconium. This sponge is used in non-nuclear applications.
1.2 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.
1.3 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
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:B494/B494M −08 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Specification for
Primary Zirconium
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B494/B494M; 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 3.1.2.1 Discussion—In this process, the reduced metal is
melted and dripped onto a rotating disk to form chunklets.
1.1 This specification covers two grades of zirconium metal
commonly designated as sponge or chunklets, but may also 3.2 Lot—alotshallconsistofasingleblendproducedatone
takeotherforms.Thisspecificationdoesnotincludecrystalbar time.
zirconium. This sponge is used in non-nuclear applications.
4. Classification
1.2 Unless a single unit is used, for example corrosion mass
gain in mg/dm , the values stated in either inch-pound or SI 4.1 Primary zirconium is furnished in two grades:
units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values
4.1.1 Grade R60702—Unalloyed zirconium.
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore each 4.1.2 Grade R60703—Unalloyed zirconium for metallurgi-
system must be used independently of the other. SI values cal alloying.
cannot be mixed with inch-pound values.
5. Ordering Information
1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
test method portions of this specification. This standard does
5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
the following information, when applicable:
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
5.1.1 Quantity (weight),
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices
5.1.2 Name of material (zirconium sponge or chunklet),
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
5.1.3 Grade number (see 4.1),
to use.
5.1.4 ASTM designation and year of issue,
5.1.5 Check analysis (see 7.2),
2. Referenced Documents
5.1.6 Sampling of small blends (see 8.1.1),
5.1.7 Inspection (see 11.1),
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1.8 Product marking (Section 15),
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
5.1.9 Packaging (Section 16),
Determine Conformance with Specifications
5.1.10 Oxygen limits, when needed (Table 1), and
5.1.11 Additions to the specification as required.
3. Terminology
NOTE1—Atypicalorderingdescriptionisasfollows:3000lb[2000kg]
3.1 Forms:
zirconium sponge, ASTM B494/B494M - 01, Grade R60703.
3.1.1 sponge, n—zirconium metal produced from the reduc-
tion of the chloride, usually by magnesium.
6. Materials and Manufacture
3.1.1.1 Discussion—The process is one where the metal
6.1 Zirconium metal is usually prepared by reduction of
condenses to the solid state and does not melt.
zirconium tetrachloride, and it gets its physical characteristics
3.1.2 chunklets, n—zirconium metal produced from the
from the processes involved in production. These characteris-
reduction of the chloride, usually by sodium.
tics may be expected to vary greatly with manufacturing
methods. This specification, however, is not limited to metal
prepared by reduction of tetrachloride or to material of any
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 on
specific physical form.
Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee B10.02 on Zirconium and Hafnium.
6.2 Only virgin zirconium metal, in identified, uniform,
Current edition approved May 1, 2014. Published May 2014. Originally
well-mixed blends, shall be supplied under this specification.
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as B494/B494M – 08.
DOI: 10.1520/B0494_B0494M-08R14.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 7. Chemical Composition
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
7.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
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B494/B494M−08 (2014)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
9.2.1 If any sample or specimen exhibits obvious surface
Composition, % contamination or improper preparation disqualifying it as a
Element
Grade R60702 Grade R60703 truly representative sample, it shall be discarded and a new
Zirconium + hafnium 99.2 min 98.0 min sample or specimen substituted.
Hafnium 4.5 max 4.5 max
9.2.2 If the results of any tests of any lot do not conform to
Iron + chromium 0.2 max .
the requirements specified, retests shall be made on additional
Hydrogen 0.005 max .
Nitrogen 0.025 max . samples of double the original number from the same lot. Each
Carbon 0.05 max .
of the retest values shall conform to the requirements specified.
AA
Oxygen
A
Limits as specified by the purchaser.
10. Specimen Preparation
10.1 The sample for chemical analysis of impurities other
than magnesium or sodium and chloride shall be obtained in
TABLE 2 Permissible Variation in Check Analysis Between
accordance with 8.1.2 and shall be compacted into consumable
Different Laboratories
electrodes,thenmeltedtoingotforminanarcfurnaceofatype
Permissible Variation in
Element
conventionally used for reactive metals. The ingot shall be
Check Analysis, %
Hydrogen 0.005 prepared for analysis by either of the following two methods:
Nitrogen 0.01
10.1.1 Alongitudinal section shall be taken from the center
Carbon 0.02
of the ingot. The longitudinal section shall be analyzed on
Hafnium 0.1
Iron + chromium 0.03 samples taken from the longitudinal section at approximately
Oxygen 0.02
equal intervals, as prescribed i
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