ASTM C888-18

Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf >) Powder

ABSTRACT
This specification provides chemical and physical requirements for nuclear-grade gadolinium oxide powder intended for subsequent processing and use in nuclear fuel applications. Chemical requirements of the specification include loss-on-ignition, gadolinium oxide concentration, and impurity content limits. The buyer shall specify the particle size, density, shape factor, and crystal structure. Gadolinium oxide powder shall be packaged in sealed containers.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides the chemical and physical requirements for nuclear-grade gadolinium oxide powder intended for subsequent processing and use in nuclear fuel applications, for example, as an addition to uranium dioxide.  
1.2 This specification does not include requirements for health and safety. Observance of this specification does not relieve the user of the obligation to be aware of and comply with all federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to possessing, shipping, processing, or using this material.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-May-2018
• 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

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C888-03(2014) - Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide &#40;Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf >&#41; Powder
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2018
• Refers: ASTM C859-24 - Standard Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2024
• Refers: ASTM B329-20 - Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Refers: ASTM B329-18 - Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Refers: ASTM C889-18 - Standard Test Methods for Chemical and Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>) Powder
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2018
• Refers: ASTM B329-14 - Standard Test Method for<brk type="line"/> Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2014
• Refers: ASTM C859-14a - Standard Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2014
• Refers: ASTM C859-14 - Standard Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2014
• Refers: ASTM E11-13 - Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2013
• Refers: ASTM C859-13a - Standard Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2013
• Refers: ASTM C859-13 - Standard Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM B329-06(2012) - Standard Test Method for<brk type="line"/> Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2012
• Refers: ASTM C889-11 - Standard Test Methods for Chemical and Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd₂O₃) Powder
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Refers: ASTM C859-10b - Standard Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2010
• Refers: ASTM E105-10 - Standard Practice for Probability Sampling Of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2010

Overview

ASTM C888-18: Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd₂O₃) Powder establishes comprehensive chemical and physical requirements for gadolinium oxide powder intended for nuclear applications. This standard, developed by ASTM International, is critical for organizations involved in the nuclear fuel cycle, ensuring that gadolinium oxide used in nuclear fuel is of consistent, high purity, and suitable physical characteristics.

The standard guides both buyers and suppliers in specifying, verifying, and certifying the quality of nuclear-grade Gd₂O₃ powder, including detailed requirements for chemical composition, impurity limits, particle size, packaging, and documentation.

Key Topics

• Chemical Composition

  • Minimum gadolinium oxide concentration of 99.8% by weight (excluding loss-on-ignition).
  • Strict impurity limits, including specific maximum concentrations for elements such as boron, cadmium, thorium, and others.
  • Loss-on-ignition must not exceed 1.5% by weight upon heating at 900°C for 2 hours.
  • Isotopic composition of gadolinium aligns with naturally occurring abundance.

• Physical Requirements

  • Buyer must specify particle size, density, shape factor, and, optionally, crystal structure.
  • Density measurement techniques referenced include the Scott Volumeter (ASTM B329) and (historical) Mercury Displacement.
  • The powder must be clean and free from contamination by dust, organics, plastics, or other foreign materials.

• Sampling and Quality Control

  • Sampling plans and inspection procedures must be approved by the buyer, referencing ASTM E105.
  • Archive samples should be retained for the period specified by the buyer.
  • Quality assurance may reference industry standards like ANSI/ASME NQA-1 and regulatory requirements (e.g., 10 CFR 50).

• Packaging and Identification

  • Gadolinium oxide powder must be sealed in containers to prevent loss or contamination.
  • Each container requires clear labeling, including material identification, specification number, lot number, weights, seller details, and order information.

Applications

• Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing: Gadolinium oxide is primarily used as a burnable neutron absorber in uranium dioxide (UO₂) fuel pellets to enhance reactor safety and efficiency.

• Quality Control in Nuclear Facilities: This standard guarantees traceability and consistent quality, supporting regulatory compliance and operational reliability in nuclear energy production.

• Procurement and Supply Chain: ASTM C888-18 supports clear communication between buyers and suppliers for procurement contracts, ensuring delivered material meets strict nuclear-grade specifications.

• Research and Development: Laboratories and R&D groups utilize nuclear-grade Gd₂O₃ as a reference material for fuel development and material science studies related to advanced reactor technologies.

Related Standards

• ASTM B329: Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter.
• ASTM E11: Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves.
• ASTM C889: Test Methods for Chemical and Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide Powder.
• ASTM E105: Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials.
• ANSI/ASME NQA-1: Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications.
• 10 CFR 50: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations for domestic licensing of production and utilization nuclear facilities.

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Keywords: ASTM C888-18, nuclear-grade gadolinium oxide, Gd2O3 powder, nuclear fuel, burnable absorber, impurity limits, quality control, nuclear standards, packaging, procurement, nuclear materials.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: C888 −18
Standard Specification for
Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd O ) Powder
2 3
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C888; 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 E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
Sieves
1.1 This specification provides the chemical and physical
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
requirements for nuclear-grade gadolinium oxide powder in-
tended for subsequent processing and use in nuclear fuel 2.2 ANSI Standard:
applications, for example, as an addition to uranium dioxide. ASME NQA-1 QualityAssurance Requirements for Nuclear
Facility Applications
1.2 This specification does not include requirements for
health and safety. Observance of this specification does not 2.3 U.S. Government Document:
relieve the user of the obligation to be aware of and comply Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 50 Energy (10
with all federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to CFR 50), Domestic Licensing of Production and Utiliza-
possessing, shipping, processing, or using this material. tion Facilities
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3. Terminology
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminol-
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
ogy C859 except as defined herein.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.1.1 buyer—the organization issuing the purchase order.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1.1.2 powder lot—a quantity of gadolinium oxide powder
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
that has been processed in a manner such that samples taken in
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
accordance with the procedures of 8.1 can be considered as
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
representative of the entire powder lot.
3.1.1.3 seller—the gadolinium oxide powder supplier.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4. Ordering Information
B329 Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders
and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter 4.1 The buyer shall specify the following information for all
C493 Test Method for Bulk Density and Porosity of Granu- orders where this specification applies:
lar Refractory Materials by Mercury Displacement (Dis-
4.1.1 Powder lot size (allowable range),
continued 2002) (Withdrawn 2002) 4.1.2 Quantity (weight of delivered product),
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
4.1.3 Nominal particle size range and applicable tolerances
C889 Test Methods for Chemical and Mass Spectrometric
in accordance with Specification E11,
Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd O )
4.1.4 Density (optional), Scott Volumeter (Test Method
2 3
Powder
B329) and Mercury Displacement (Test Method C493) are
referenced as guides to density measurement techniques,
4.1.5 Shape factor and method of determination (optional),
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on
4.1.6 Sampling requirements,
Nuclear Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.03 on
4.1.7 Crystal structure (optional), and
Neutron Absorber Materials Specifications.
4.1.8 Quality requirements.
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2018.PublishedJuly2018.Originallyapproved
in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as C888 – 03 (2014). DOI:
10.1520/C0888-18.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
the ASTM website. AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments,
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
www.astm.org. www.access.gpo.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C888 − 18
5. Chemical Composition 8.2.2 Acceptance tests by the buyer,
8.2.3 Refereetests,intheeventthesebecomenecessary,and
5.1 Loss-on-Ignition—The loss-on-ignition as determined
8.2.4 Retention of archive samples by the seller.
after ignition for 2 h at a minimum temperature of 900°C shall
not exceed 1.5 weight %. 8.3 Archive samples shall be retained for a period of time
specified by the buyer and delivered to the buyer upon request.
5.2 Gadolinium Oxide Concentration—The minimum
Gd O concentration shall be 99.8 weight % exclusive of the
...

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: C888 − 03 (Reapproved 2014) C888 − 18
Standard Specification for
Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd O ) Powder
2 3
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C888; 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 gadolinium oxide powder intended for
subsequent processing and use in nuclear fuel applications, for example, as an addition to uranium dioxide.
1.2 This specification does not include requirements for health and safety. Observance of this specification does not relieve the
user of the obligation to be aware of and comply with all federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to possessing, shipping,
processing, or using this material.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B329 Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter
C493 Test Method for Bulk Density and Porosity of Granular Refractory Materials by Mercury Displacement (Discontinued
2002) (Withdrawn 2002)
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
C889 Test Methods for Chemical and Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Gadolinium Oxide (Gd O ) Powder
2 3
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
2.2 ANSI Standard:
ANSI/ASMEASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications
2.3 U.S. Government Document:
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 50 Energy (10 CFR 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 as defined herein.
3.1.1.1 buyer—the organization issuing the purchase order.
3.1.1.2 powder lot—a quantity of gadolinium oxide powder that has been processed in a manner such that samples taken in
accordance with the procedures of 8.1 can be considered as representative of the entire powder lot.
3.1.1.3 seller—the gadolinium oxide powder supplier.
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 Jan. 1, 2014June 1, 2018. Published February 2014July 2018. Originally approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 20082014 as
C888 – 03 (2008).(2014). DOI: 10.1520/C0888-03R14.10.1520/C0888-18.
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.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
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
C888 − 18
4. Ordering Information
4.1 The buyer shall specify the following information for all orders where this specification applies:
4.1.1 Powder lot size (allowable range),
4.1.2 Quantity (weight of delivered product),
4.1.3 Nominal particle size range and applicable tolerances in accordance with Specification E11,
4.1.4 Density (optional), Scott Volumeter (Test Method B329) and Mercury Displacement (Test Method C493) are referenced
as guides to density measurement techniques,
4.1.5 Shape factor and method of determination (optional),
4.1.6 Sampling requirements,
4.1.7 Crystal structure (optional), and
4.1.8 Quality requirements.
5. Chemical Composition
5.1 Loss-on-Ignition—The loss-on-ignition as determined after ignition for 2 h at a minimum temperature of 900°C shall not
exceed 1.5 weight %.
5.2 Gadolinium Oxide Concentration—The minimum Gd O concentration shall be 99.8 weight % exclusive of the constituents
2 3
lost on ignition as determined by Test Methods C889.
5.2.1 Gadolinium Oxide Isotope Concentration—The isotopic concentration of the gadolinium shall be that which is found in
na
...