ASTM C1233-03

Standard Practice for Determining Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear Materials

ABSTRACT
This practice details the recommended method for calculating the equivalent boron content (EBC) values of nuclear elements and materials that are of potential significance as thermal neutron poisons. EBC factors are determined from the atomic weight of elements and the thermal neutron absorption cross section in barns. These may be used depending upon the actual neutron energy characteristics of the applicable reactor system. The elements aluminum, fluorine, rubidium, barium, lead, silicon, beryllium, neon, tin, bismuth, oxygen, zirconium, carbon, magnesium, cerium, and phosphorus are not required to be included in the EBC calculations as their contribution to the total poison effect is not considerably significant.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard details a recommended practice for the calculation of the Equivalent Boron Content (EBC) values for elements that are of potential significance as thermal neutron poisons. The values are determined from a knowledge of the atomic weight of elements and the thermal neutron absorption cross section in barns. This practice is illustrated by using the EBC factors of Table 1 which are based on thermal neutron (2200 m/s) absorption cross sections. Other EBC factors may be used depending upon the actual neutron energy characteristics of the applicable reactor system.1.2 The following elements do not require to be included in the EBC calculations, as their EBC factors are less than or equal to 0.0001: aluminum; fluorine; rubidium; barium; lead; silicon; beryllium; neon; tin; bismuth; oxygen; zirconium; carbon; magnesium; cerium; phosphorus. Their contribution to the total poison effect is not considered significant.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-2003
• ICS: 27.120.30 - Fissile materials and nuclear fuel technology
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.02 - Fuel and Fertile Material Specifications

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1233-98 - Standard Practice for Determining Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM C1233-09 - Standard Practice for Determining Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C785-08(2022) - Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Aluminum Oxide Pellets
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1783-15 - Standard Guide for Development of Specifications for Fiber Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Composite Structures for Nuclear Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C697-16 - Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Plutonium Dioxide Powders and Pellets
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C776-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Sintered Uranium Dioxide Pellets for Light Water Reactors
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1334-05(2022) - Standard Specification for Uranium Oxides with a ²³⁵U Content of Less Than 5 % for Dissolution Prior to Conversion to Nuclear-Grade Uranium Dioxide
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C708-16 - Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Beryllium Oxide Powder
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C757-16(2021) - Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Plutonium Dioxide Powder for Light Water Reactors
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C761-18 - Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, Spectrochemical, Nuclear, and Radiochemical Analysis of Uranium Hexafluoride
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C753-16a(2021) - Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade, Sinterable Uranium Dioxide Powder
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1065-08(2022) - Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Zirconium Oxide Powder
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7219-19 - Standard Specification for Isotropic and Near-isotropic Nuclear Graphites
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C698-16 - Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Mixed Oxides ((U, Pu)O<inf>2</inf>)
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C833-23 - Standard Specification for Sintered (Uranium-Plutonium) Dioxide Pellets for Light Water Reactors
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003

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:C1233–03
Standard Practice for
Determining Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear
1
Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1233; 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.
1. Scope C 761 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric,
Spectrochemical, Nuclear, and Radiochemical Analysis of
1.1 This standard details a recommended practice for the
2
Uranium Hexafluoride
calculation of the Equivalent Boron Content (EBC) values for
C 799 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric,
elements that are of potential significance as thermal neutron
Spectrochemical, Nuclear, and Radiochemical Analysis of
poisons. The values are determined from a knowledge of the
2
Nuclear-Grade Uranyl Nitrate Solutions
atomic weight of elements and the thermal neutron absorption
2
C 859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
cross section in barns. This practice is illustrated by using the
EBC factors of Table 1 which are based on thermal neutron
3. Terminology
(2200 m/s) absorption cross sections. Other EBC factors may
3.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology
be used depending upon the actual neutron energy character-
C 859.
istics of the applicable reactor system.
1.2 The following elements do not require to be included in
4. Methods For EBC Determination
the EBC calculations, as their EBC factors are less than or
4.1 Agreement shall be reached between the buyer and
equal to 0.0001.
seller as to which elements shall be analyzed for calculation of
aluminum fluorine rubidium
their EBC. It is recommended that B, Cd, Dy, Eu, Sm, and Gd
barium lead silicon
beryllium neon tin
be included in this calculation. Analytical methods for such
bismuth oxygen zirconium
elements shall be those given in Methods C 696, C 699, and
carbon magnesium
C 799, and Test Methods C 698 and C 761 as applicable or as
cerium phosphorus
otherwise agreed upon between buyer and seller.
Their contribution to the total poison effect is not considered
4.2 TheindividualEBCvaluesarecalculatedusingtheEBC
significant.
factors from Table 1 as follows:
EBC of impurity 5 ~EBC factor!~µg of impurity/g base material!
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 696 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
where:
Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Uranium Di- EBC factor =
~atomic mass boron!~sa impurity!
2
oxide Powders and Pellets
~atomic mass impurity!~sa boron! , and
C 698 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
sa = atomic neutron absorption cross section in
SpectrochemicalAnalysis of Nuclear-Grade Mixed Oxides
barns.
2
((U,Pu)O )
2 The values given in Table 1 have been calculated using a
C 699 Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
value of 764 Barns for the neutron absorption cross section
Spectrochemical Analysis of, and Physical Tests on, Be-
(sa) of boron. This value may vary in nature according to the
2
ryllium Oxide Powder
isotopic composition of the elements. If an alternative value is
chosen the EBC factors must be recalculated using the chosen
value.
1
4.3 If the concentration of any of the elements used in the
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear
Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.02 on Fuel and
calculation is reported as “less than” values, these values shall
Fertile Material Specifications.
be used in calculating the EBC.
Current edition approved July 10, 2003. Published August 2003. Originally
4.4 A total EBC value, if required, is determined by the
approved in 1993. Last previous approved in 1998 as C1233–98.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01. summation of individual EBC values.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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C1233–03
TABLE 1 Equivalent Boron Content Factors
A B
Element Neutron Absorption Cross Section (Barns) at 2200 m/s Atomic Mass EBC Factor
C
Antimony 5.1 121.75 0.0006
Argon 0.68 39.95 0.0002
Arsenic 4.5 74.92 0.0008
D
Boron 764 10.81 1.0000
Bromine 6.9 79.91 0.0012
Cadmium 2520 112.41 0.3172
Calcium 0.43 40.08 0.0002
Cesium 29 132.91 0.0031
Chlorine 33.5 35.45 0.0132
Chromium 3.07 52.00 0.0008
Cobalt 37.2 58.93 0.0089
Copper 3.78 63.54 0.0008
Dysprosium 940 162.50 0.0818
Erbium 159.2 167.26 0.0135
Europium 4565 151.97 0.4250
Gadolinium 48890 157.25 4.3991
Gallium 2.9 69.72 0.0006
C
Germanium 2.3 72.59 0.0004
Gold 98.65 196.97 0.0071
Hafnium 104.1 178.49 0.0083
Holmium 64.7 164.93 0.0056
Hydrogen 0.33 1.01 0.0046
C
Indium 193.8 114.82 0.0239
...