ASTM_B_349_-_B_349M_-_16.pdf

Designation:B349/B349M16Standard Specification forZirconium Sponge and Other Forms of Virgin Metal forNuclear Application1This standard is issued under the fixed designation B349/B349M;the number immediately following the designation indicates the yearof 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.Scope1.1 This specification covers one grade of virgin zirconiummetal commonly designated as sponge because of its porous,sponge-like texture,but it may also take other forms such aschunklets,suitable for use in nuclear applications.1.2 Unless a single unit is used,for example corrosion massgain in mg/dm2,the values stated in either inch-pound or SIunits are to be regarded separately as standard.The valuesstated in each system are not exact equivalents;therefore eachsystem must be used independently of the other.SI valuescannot be mixed with inch-pound values.1.3This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data toDetermine Conformance with Specifications3.Terminology3.1 Forms:3.1.1 chunklets,nzirconium metal produced from thereduction of the chloride,usually by sodium.3.1.1.1 DiscussionIn this process,the reduced metal ismelted and dripped onto a rotating disk to form chunklets.3.1.2 sponge,nzirconium metal produced from the reduc-tion of the chloride,usually by magnesium.3.1.2.1 DiscussionThe process is one where the metalcondenses to the solid state and does not melt.3.2 Lot Definitiona lot shall consist of a single blendproduced at one time.4.Classification4.1 Primary zirconium is furnished in one grade designatedas Reactor Grade R60001,suitable for nuclear applications.The main characteristic of the reactor grade is its low neutroncapture cross section as achieved by removal of hafnium.Themanufacturer must use procedures to prevent contaminationwith other high cross-section materials.5.Ordering Information5.1 Purchase orders for material under this specificationshall include the following information,as required,to describeadequately the desired material:5.1.1 Quantity(weight),5.1.2 Name of material(zirconium sponge or chunklets),5.1.3 Grade designation(see 4.1),5.1.4 ASTM designation and year of issue.5.2 In addition to the data specified in 5.1,the followingoptions and points of agreement between the manufacturer andthe purchaser shall be specified in the purchase order,asrequired.5.2.1 Sampling and duplicate samples(see 8.2 and 8.3).5.2.2 Certification reports(Section 14),and5.2.3 Packaging(Section 16).NOTE1Atypical ordering description is as follows:5000 lb(2000 kg)reactor grade zirconium,Grade R60001,ASTM Specification B349/B349M-09.6.Materials and Manufacture6.1 Zirconium metal is usually prepared by reduction ofzirconium tetrachloride,and gets its physical characteristicsfrom the processes involved in production.These characteris-tics may be expected to vary greatly with manufacturingmethods.This specification,however,is not limited to materialprepared by reduction of tetrachloride or to material of anyspecific physical form.6.2 Only virgin zirconium metal,in identified,uniform,well-mixed blends,shall be supplied under this specification.1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 onReactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee B10.02 on Zirconium and Hafnium.Current edition approved May 1,2016.Published May 2016.Originallyapproved in 1960.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as B349/B349M 09.DOI:10.1520/B0349_B0349M-16.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 7.Chemical Composition7.1 The zirconium metal supplied under this specificationshall conform to the requirements for chemical compositionprescribed in Table 1.8.Sampling8.1 This sampling method detailed in this section shall beconsidered the industry standard,but alternate methods areacceptable when agreed to by the manufacturer and thepurchaser.All sampling methods shall be such that the analysisis representative of the sponge blend.8.2 A blend of sponge shall be sampled by running a fullquantity through a proportioner or splitter to obtain a repre-sentative sample of at least 1%of the blend weight.Thesamples for chemical analyses shall be made on a compactedbriquette and an evaluati