ASTM C1233-98
(Practice)Standard Practice for Determining Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear Materials
Standard Practice for Determining Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear Materials
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.
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Designation: C 1233 – 98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
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Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
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 799 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric,
Spectrochemical, Nuclear, and Radiochemical Analysis of
1.1 This standard details a recommended practice for the
2
Nuclear-Grade Uranyl Nitrate Solutions
calculation of the Equivalent Boron Content (EBC) values for
2
C 859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
elements that are of potential significance as thermal neutron
poisons. The values are determined from a knowledge of the
3. Terminology
atomic weight of elements and the thermal neutron absorption
3.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology
cross section in barns. This practice is illustrated by using the
C 859.
EBC factors of Table 1 which are based on thermal neutron
(2200 m/s) absorption cross sections. Other EBC factors may
4. Methods For EBC Determination
be used depending upon the actual neutron energy character-
4.1 Agreement shall be reached between the buyer and
istics of the applicable reactor system.
seller as to which elements shall be analyzed for calculation of
1.2 The following elements do not require to be included in
their EBC. Analytical methods for such elements shall be those
the EBC calculations, as their EBC factors are less than or
given in Methods C 696, C 699, and C 799, and Test Methods
equal to 0.0001.
C 698 and C 761 as applicable or as otherwise agreed upon
aluminum fluorine rubidium
between buyer and seller.
barium lead silicon
beryllium neon tin
4.2 The individual EBC values are calculated using the EBC
bismuth oxygen zirconium
factors from Table 1 as follows:
carbon magnesium
cerium phosphorus
EBC of impurity 5 ~EBC factor!~μg of impurity/g base material!
Their contribution to the total poison effect is not considered
where:
significant.
EBC factor 5 ~atomic mass boron!~sa impurity!
~atomic mass impurity!~sa boron!, and
2. Referenced Documents
sa 5 atomic neutron absorption cross section in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
barns.
C 696 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
The values given in Table 1 have been calculated using a
Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Uranium Di-
value of 764 Barns for the neutron absorption cross section
2
oxide Powders and Pellets
(sa) of boron. This value may vary in nature according to the
C 698 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
isotopic composition of the elements. If an alternative value is
Spectrochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade Mixed Oxides
chosen the EBC factors must be recalculated using the chosen
2
((U,Pu)O )
2
value.
C 699 Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, and
4.3 If the concentration of any of the elements used in the
Spectrochemical Analysis of, and Physical Tests on, Be-
calculation is reported as “less than” values, these values shall
2
ryllium Oxide Powder
be used in calculating the EBC.
C 761 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric,
4.4 A total EBC value, if required, is determined by the
Spectrochemical, Nuclear, and Radiochemical Analysis of
summation of individual EBC values.
2
Uranium Hexafluoride
4.5 Plutonium, thorium and uranium have not been in-
cluded, as they are fissionable elements.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-26 on Nuclear
Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.02 on Fuel and
5. Keywords
Fertile Material Specifications.
5.1 boron; neutron absorption; nuclear materials; nuclear
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 1998. Published November 1998. Originally
published as C 1233–93. Last previous edition C1233–97. poisons
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
NOTICE:¬This¬standard¬has¬either¬been¬superceded¬and¬replaced¬by¬a¬new¬version¬or¬discontinued.¬
Contact¬ASTM¬International¬(www.astm.org)¬for¬the¬latest¬information.¬
C 1233
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 0.0
...
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