ASTM C1031-11(2016)

Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide Powder

ABSTRACT
This specification provides the chemical and physical properties and requirements for nuclear-grade aluminum oxide powder intended for fabrication into shapes for nuclear applications. The materials shall conform to physical requirements as to particle size distribution, and specific surface area, and chemical requirements as to loss-on-ignition, and total and elemental concentrations of all impurities. Impurities may include silicaon, iron-chromium-nickel, magnesium, sodium, calcium, hafnium, fluorine, fluorine-chlorine-iodine-bromine, gadolinium, samarium, europium, and dysprosium.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides the chemical and physical requirements for nuclear-grade aluminum oxide powder intended for fabrication into shapes for nuclear applications. Two specific uses for which this powder is intended are Al2O3  pellets and Al2O3 − B4C composite pellets for use as thermal insulator or burnable neutron absorbers, respectively.  
1.2 The material described herein shall be particulate in nature.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2016
• ICS: 27.120.30 - Fissile materials and nuclear fuel technology
• ICS: 71.060.20 - Oxides
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.03 - Neutron Absorber Materials Specifications

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:C1031 −11 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Specification for
Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide Powder
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1031; 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 3.1.3 powder lot—that quantity of aluminum oxide powder
madeupofpowderfromoneormoresources,blendedtogether
1.1 This specification provides the chemical and physical
and homogenized such that samples taken in accordance with
requirements for nuclear-grade aluminum oxide powder in-
theproceduresinSection8canbeconsideredasrepresentative
tendedforfabricationintoshapesfornuclearapplications.Two
of the entire quantity.
specific uses for which this powder is intended are Al O
2 3
pellets and Al O −B C composite pellets for use as thermal 3.1.4 seller—aluminum oxide manufacturer.
2 3 4
insulator or burnable neutron absorbers, respectively.
4. Ordering Information
1.2 The material described herein shall be particulate in
nature. 4.1 Thebuyershallspecifythefollowinginformationonthe
order:
2. Referenced Documents
4.1.1 Quantity (weight of delivered product),
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1.2 Lot size (allowable range),
C809Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
4.1.3 Sample requirements, and
Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Aluminum
4.1.4 Additional requirements.
Oxide and AluminumOxide-Boron Carbide Composite
Pellets
5. Chemical Composition
C859Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
5.1 The powder shall conform to the following chemical
E105Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
requirements (see Methods C809):
2.2 ANSI Standard:
Element Weight %, max
ANSI/ASME NQA-1Quality Assurance Requirements for
Silicon 2.0
Nuclear Facility Applications
Iron-Chromium-Nickel 0.6
2.3 U.S. Government Document:
Magnesium 1.0
Sodium 0.2
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10,Part 50–Energy
Calcium 0.3
(10CFR 50), Domestic Licensing of Production and Uti-
Hafnium 200 µg/g Al O
2 3
lization Facilities
Fluorine 50 µg/g Al O
2 3
Fluorine-Chlorine-Iodine-Bromine 100 µg/g Al O
2 3
Gadolinium 100 µg/g Al O
3. Terminology 2 3
Samarium 100 µg/g Al O
2 3
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: Europium 100 µg/g Al O
2 3
Dysprosium 200 µg/g Al O
2 3
3.1.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminol-
ogy C859 except for the following: 5.2 The impurities listed in 5.1, and any other identified
3.1.2 buyer—organization issuing the purchase order. impurityexceeding1.0weight%andthetotalconcentrationof
all impurities, shall be reported. The total of all measured
impurities shall not exceed 4.0 weight%.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on
Nuclear Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.03 on
5.3 Loss-on-Ignition—The test method and acceptance lim-
Neutron Absorber Materials Specifications.
its for loss-on-ignition shall be agreed upon between the buyer
Current edition approved April 1, 2016. Published April 2016. Originally
and the seller.
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as C1031–11. DOI:
10.1520/C1031-11R16.
NOTE 1—The buyer may specify limits for any other elements (for
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
example, neutron absorbing materials, such as boron) not listed in 5.1.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standardsvolume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
6. Physical Requirements
the ASTM website.
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
6.1 The particle size distribution shall have a mean value of
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
6 µm or less. The particle size distribution will be determined
AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments,
732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, D.C., 20401. utilizing a method approved by the buyer.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C1031−11 (20
...

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: C1031 − 11 C1031 − 11 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Specification for
Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide Powder
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1031; 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 specification provides the chemical and physical requirements for nuclear-grade aluminum oxide powder intended for
fabrication into shapes for nuclear applications. Two specific uses for which this powder is intended are Al O pellets and
2 3
Al O − B C composite pellets for use as thermal insulator or burnable neutron absorbers, respectively.
2 3 4
1.2 The material described herein shall be particulate in nature.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C809 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide and
AluminumOxide-Boron Carbide Composite Pellets
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
2.2 ANSI Standard:
ANSI/ASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications
2.3 U.S. Government Document:
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 50–Energy (10CFR 50), Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology C859 except for the following:
3.1.2 buyer—organization issuing the purchase order.
3.1.3 powder lot—that quantity of aluminum oxide powder made up of powder from one or more sources, blended together and
homogenized such that samples taken in accordance with the procedures in Section 8 can be considered as representative of the
entire quantity.
3.1.4 seller—aluminum oxide manufacturer.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 The buyer shall specify the following information on the order:
4.1.1 Quantity (weight of delivered product),
4.1.2 Lot size (allowable range),
4.1.3 Sample requirements, and
4.1.4 Additional requirements.
5. Chemical Composition
5.1 The powder shall conform to the following chemical requirements (see Methods C809):
Element Weight %, max
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.03 on Neutron Absorber
Materials Specifications.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2011April 1, 2016. Published February 2011April 2016. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20052011 as
C1031 – 05.C1031 – 11. DOI: 10.1520/C1031-11.10.1520/C1031-11R16.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standardsvolume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, D.C., 20401.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C1031 − 11 (2016)
Silicon 2.0
Iron-Chromium-Nickel 0.6
Magnesium 1.0
Sodium 0.2
Calcium 0.3
Hafnium 200 μg/g Al O
2 3
Fluorine 50 μg/g Al O
2 3
Fluorine-Chlorine-Iodine-Bromine 100 μg/g Al O
2 3
Gadolinium 100 μg/g Al O
2 3
Samarium 100 μg/g Al O
2 3
Europium 100 μg/g Al O
2 3
Dysprosium 200 μg/g Al O
2 3
5.2 The impurities listed in 5.1, and any other identified impurity exceeding 1.0 weight % and the total concentration of all
impurities, shall be reported. The total of all measured impurities shall not exceed 4.0 weight %.
5.3 Loss-on-Ignition—The test method and acceptance limits for loss-on-ignition shall be agreed upon between the buyer and
the seller.
NOTE 1—The buyer may specify limits for any other elements (for example, neutron absorbing materials, such as boron) not listed in 5.1.
6. Physical Requirements
6.1 The particle size distri
...