ASTM C785-08(2015)

Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide Pellets

SCOPE
1.1 This specification applies to pellets of aluminum oxide that may be ultimately used in a reactor core, for example, as filler or spacers within fuel, burnable poison, or control rods. In order to distinguish between the subject pellets and “burnable poison” pellets, it is established that the subject pellets are not intended to be used as neutron-absorbing material.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2014
• 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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:C785 −08 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Specification for
1
Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide Pellets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C785; 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 2.3 U.S. Government Document:
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 50, Energy
1.1 This specification applies to pellets of aluminum oxide
(10CFR50) Domestic Licensing of Production and Utili-
that may be ultimately used in a reactor core, for example, as
4
zation Facilities
fillerorspacerswithinfuel,burnablepoison,orcontrolrods.In
3. Terminology
order to distinguish between the subject pellets and “burnable
poison” pellets, it is established that the subject pellets are not
3.1 Definitions—Terms shall be defined in accordance with
intended to be used as neutron-absorbing material.
Terminology C859 except for the following:
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical 3.2.1 buyer—organization issuing the purchase order.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
3.2.2 pellet—fabricated geometric shape of aluminum oxide
and are not considered standard.
having a chemical composition as described in Section 4.
3.2.3 pellet lot—that quantity of pellets produced from one
2. Referenced Documents
aluminum oxide powder lot using one set of process param-
2
eters whose limits have been agreed upon between the seller
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and the buyer.
C559 Test Method for Bulk Density by Physical Measure-
3.2.4 powder lot—a specified quantity of aluminum oxide
ments of Manufactured Carbon and Graphite Articles
powder made up of powders from one or more sources,
C809 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
blended together such that samples taken in accordance with
Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Aluminum
7.1 can be considered as representative of the entire specified
Oxide and AluminumOxide-Boron Carbide Composite
quantity.
Pellets
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials 3.2.5 seller—aluminum oxide pellet supplier.
C1233 Practice for Determining Equivalent Boron Contents
4. Chemical Composition
of Nuclear Materials
4.1 Use analytical chemistry methods in accordance with
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
Methods C809 or alternate methods agreed upon between the
2.2 ANSI Standard:
buyer and the seller.
ANSI/ASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for
3 4.2 The finished aluminum oxide pellets shall conform to
Nuclear Facility Applications
the following chemical analysis:
B O + boric acid 0.01 weight % max
2 3
Si 2.0 weight % max
1
Fe + Cr + Ni 0.6 weight % max
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on
Mg 1.0 weight % max
Nuclear Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.03 on
Na 0.2 weight % max
Neutron Absorber Materials Specifications.
Ca 0.3 weight % max
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015. Published January 2015. Originally
Hf 200 µg/g pellet max
approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as C785 – 08. DOI:
F 50 µg/g pellet max
10.1520/C0785-08R15.
F + Cl + I + Br 100 µg/g pellet max
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
4
the ASTM website. AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments,
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org. www.access.gpo.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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C785−08 (2015)
Any element impurity not listed in 4.2 shall not exceed 1 5.4.3 Cracks—No single crack shall exceed 90° of circum-
weight % as determined by emission spectroscopy. The sum of ference in length.
all impurities shall not exceed 4.0 weight %. 5.4.4 Fissures and other defects shall be evaluated with
4.2.1 The total equivalent boron content (EBC) of the respect to the criteria of 5.4.1, 5.4.2, and 5.4.3.
finished aluminum oxide pellets shall not exceed 400 mg/g on
6. Cleanliness
apelletweightbasis.ThetotalEBCisthesumoftheindividual
EBC values. Practice C1233 contains a list of elements to be
6.1 The finished pellets shall be handled in a manner to
cons
...

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: C785 − 08 C785 − 08 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Specification for
1
Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide Pellets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C785; 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 applies to pellets of aluminum oxide that may be ultimately used in a reactor core, for example, as filler
or spacers within fuel, burnable poison, or control rods. In order to distinguish between the subject pellets and “burnable poison”
pellets, it is established that the subject pellets are not intended to be used as neutron-absorbing material.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C559 Test Method for Bulk Density by Physical Measurements of Manufactured Carbon and Graphite Articles
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
C1233 Practice for Determining Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear Materials
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
2.2 ANSI Standard:
3
ANSI/ASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications
2.3 U.S. Government Document:
4
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 50, Energy (10CFR50) Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology C859 except for the following:
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 buyer—organization issuing the purchase order.
3.2.2 pellet—fabricated geometric shape of aluminum oxide having a chemical composition as described in Section 4.
3.2.3 pellet lot—that quantity of pellets produced from one aluminum oxide powder lot using one set of process parameters
whose limits have been agreed upon between the seller and the buyer.
3.2.4 powder lot—a specified quantity of aluminum oxide powder made up of powders from one or more sources, blended
together such that samples taken in accordance with 7.1 can be considered as representative of the entire specified quantity.
3.2.5 seller—aluminum oxide pellet supplier.
4. Chemical Composition
4.1 Use analytical chemistry methods in accordance with Methods C809 or alternate methods agreed upon between the buyer
and the seller.
1
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 Dec. 1, 2008Jan. 1, 2015. Published December 2008January 2015. Originally approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 19932008
ε1
as C785 – 93C785 – 08. which was withdrawn May 2002 and reinstated in December 2008. DOI: 10.1520/C0785-08.DOI: 10.1520/C0785-08R15.
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.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
4
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
www.access.gpo.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C785 − 08 (2015)
4.2 The finished aluminum oxide pellets shall conform to the following chemical analysis:
B O + boric acid 0.01 weight % max
2 3
Si 2.0 weight % max
Fe + Cr + Ni 0.6 weight % max
Mg 1.0 weight % max
Na 0.2 weight % max
Ca 0.3 weight % max
Hf 200 μg/g pellet max
F 50 μg/g pellet max
F + Cl + I + Br 100 μg/g pellet max
Any element impurity not listed in 4.2 shall not exceed 1 weight % as determined by emission spectroscopy. The sum of all
impurities shall not exceed 4.0 weight %.
4.2.1 The total equivalent boron content (EBC) of the finish
...