Standard Test Method for Determination of Uranium, Oxygen to Uranium (O/U), and Oxygen to Metal (O/M) in Sintered Uranium Dioxide and Gadolinia-Uranium Dioxide Pellets by Atmospheric Equilibration

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Uranium dioxide is used as a nuclear-reactor fuel. This test method is designed to determine whether the percent uranium and O/U or O/M content meet Specifications C 776 and C 922.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method applies to the determination of uranium, the oxygen to uranium (O/U) ratio in sintered uranium dioxide pellets, and the oxygen to metal (O/M) ratio in sintered gadolinium oxide-uranium dioxide pellets with a Gd2O3  concentration of up to 12 weight %. The O/M calculations assume that the gadolinium and uranium oxides are present in a metal dioxide solid solution.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards statements, see Section 8.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-Jan-2007
Technical Committee
Drafting Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM C1430-07 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Uranium, Oxygen to Uranium (O/U), and Oxygen to Metal (O/M) in Sintered Uranium Dioxide and Gadolinia-Uranium Dioxide Pellets by Atmospheric Equilibration
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:C1430–07
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Uranium, Oxygen to Uranium (O/U), and
Oxygen to Metal (O/M) in Sintered Uranium Dioxide and
Gadolinia-Uranium Dioxide Pellets by Atmospheric
1
Equilibration
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1430; 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 3. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method applies to the determination of ura- 3.1 The uranium, and either O/U or O/M, are determined by
nium, the oxygen to uranium (O/U) ratio in sintered uranium measuring the weight change of a sintered pellet after it has
dioxidepellets,andtheoxygentometal(O/M)ratioinsintered been exposed to an equilibrating atmosphere to bring it to the
gadolinium oxide-uranium dioxide pellets with a Gd O con- stoichiometric condition. Sintered pellets are weighed and
2 3
centration of up to 12 weight %. The O/M calculations assume loaded into a sample boat. The boat is placed in a tube furnace
that the gadolinium and uranium oxides are present in a metal capable of holding a temperature of 800 6 10°C. The furnace
dioxide solid solution. is purged with a moist gas flow of 4 % hydrogen and 96 %
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the argon or nitrogen to remove all air. The temperature of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the furnace is raised to 800°C and held at this temperature with
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- constant gas flow for 4 h. The furnace then is turned off and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- allowed to cool, with gas purge on, to room temperature. The
bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.Forspecifichazards samples are removed from the furnace and reweighed.
statements, see Section 8. 3.2 The weight change, gadolinia content, and chemical
impurity content are used to calculate % uranium and the O/U
2. Referenced Documents
or O/M.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4. Significance and Use
C696 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Uranium Di- 4.1 Uranium dioxide is used as a nuclear-reactor fuel. This
oxide Powders and Pellets test method is designed to determine whether the percent
C776 Specification for Sintered Uranium Dioxide Pellets uranium and O/U or O/M content meet Specifications C776
C922 Specification for Sintered Gadolinium Oxide- and C922.
Uranium Dioxide Pellets
5. Interferences
C968 Test Methods for Analysis of Sintered Gadolinium
5.1 Parameters for temperature, gas composition, gas flow,
Oxide-Uranium Dioxide Pellets
C1287 Test Method for Determination of Impurities in and moist air purge must be monitored and maintained care-
fully within the limits set in the procedure.
Nuclear Grade Uranium Compounds by Inductively
Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry 5.2 This test method assumes that chemical impurities meet
Specifications C776 and C922 limits. Potential method inter-
ferences from higher impurity concentrations will require
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear evaluation.
Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of
5.3 Furnace tubes or boats made from metals that oxidize
Test.
under the test conditions may prevent proper equilibration by
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2007. Published March 2007. Originally
consuming available oxygen.
approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as C1430–00. DOI:
10.1520/C1430-07.
5.4 Preciseweighingofsamplesiscriticaltotheaccuracyof
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
this test method.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.5 Loss of weight due to pellet chipping would invalidate
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. the analysis. Handle pellets with care.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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C1430–07
5.6 This test method assumes that pellets are sintered. It 8. Hazards and Precautions
does not correct for moisture or volatile additives.
8.1 Take proper safety precautions for handling uranium.
5.7 This test method assumes that UO -Gd O pellets have
2 2 3 8.2 Thefurnace,sampletubeandsampleboatsareheatedto
formed a solid solution; however, the error from incomplete
800°C. Care must be taken to avoid burns.
dissolution of Gd O would be very small (see the calculation
2 3
8.3 Exercise a
...

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