ASTM C791-11
Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide

Standard No.

ASTM C791-11

Release Date

2011

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM C791-12

Latest

ASTM C791-19

Scope

Boron carbide is used as a control material in nuclear reactors. In order to be suitable for this purpose, the material must meet certain criteria for assay, isotopic composition, and impurity content. These methods are designed to show whether or not a given material meets the specifications for these items as described in Specifications C750 and C751.

An assay is performed to determine whether the material has the specified boron content.

Determination of the isotopic content of the boron is made to establish whether the content is in compliance with the purchaser’s specifications.

Impurity content is determined to ensure that the maximum concentration limit of certain impurity elements is not exceeded.

1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the chemical, mass spectrometric, and spectrochemical analysis of nuclear-grade boron carbide powder and pellets to determine compliance with specifications.

1.2 The analytical procedures appear in the following order:

	Sections
Total Carbon by Combustion in an Inductive Furnace and Infrared Measurement	7-16
Total Boron by Titrimetry and ICP OES	17-27
Isotopic Composition by Mass Spectrometry	28-32
Pyrohydrolysis	33-40
Chloride by Constant-Current Coulometry	41-49
Chloride and Fluoride by Ion-Selective Electrode	50-58
Water by Constant-Voltage Coulometry and Weight Loss on Drying	59-62
Metallic Impurities	63 and 64
Soluble Boron by Titrimetry and ICP OES	65-79
Free Carbon by a Coulometric Method	80-89

7.1 This method covers the determination of total carbon in nuclear-grade boron carbide in either powder or pellet form.

17.1 This method covers the determination of total boron in samples of boron carbide powder and pellets by titrimetry and ICP OES. The recommended amount of boron for each titration is 100 ± 10 mg.

28.1 This method covers the determination of the isotopic composition of boron in nuclear-grade boron carbide, in powder and pellet form, containing natural to highly enriched boron.

33.1 This method covers the separation of up to 100 μg of halides per gram of boron carbide. The separated halides are measured using other methods found in this standard. It also covers the sample preparation for the determination of isotopic composition by ICP MS. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

41.1 This method covers the measurement of chloride after separation from boron carbide by pyrohydrolysis. The lower limit of the method is about 2 μg of chloride per titration.

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ASTM C791-11 Referenced Document

• ASTM C750 Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide Powder
• ASTM C751 Standard Specification for Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide Pellets (Withdrawn 2001)
• ASTM D1193 Standard Specification for Reagent Water

ASTM C791-11 history

• 2019 ASTM C791-19 Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide
• 2012 ASTM C791-12 Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide
• 2011 ASTM C791-11 Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide
• 2004 ASTM C791-04 Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide
• 1983 ASTM C791-83(2000) Standard Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Boron Carbide