ASTM C1066-09(2015)

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Designation: C1066 − 09 C1066 − 09 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Specification for
Nuclear Grade Zirconium Oxide Pellets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1066; 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 applies to pellets of stabilized zirconium oxide used in nuclear reactors.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C559 Test Method for Bulk Density by Physical Measurements of Manufactured Carbon and Graphite Articles
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
C1065 Specification for Nuclear-Grade Zirconium Oxide Powder
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
2.2 ANSI Standard:
ANSI/ASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Program 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 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology C859, except for the following:
3.2 buyer—the organization issuing the purchase order.
3.3 pellet—a fabricated geometric shape of zirconiumoxide having a chemical composition as described in Section 4.
3.4 pellet lot—the pellets produced from one zirconium oxide powder lot using one set of process parameters. Pellet lot size
shall be agreed upon between the seller and the buyer.
3.5 phase transformation—the rearrangement of the atomic ordering of a crystalline lattice as a material is cycled through a
critical transformation or inversion temperature. The change from one crystalline phase to another may be accompanied by a
volume change that could lead to cracks or defects in articles fabricated from such materials.
3.6 powder lot—a specified quantity of zirconium-oxide powder with stabilizing additive, blended together such that samples
taken in accordance with Section 7 can be considered as representative of the entire quantity.
3.7 seller—the zirconium oxide pellet supplier.
3.8 stabilizing additive—A material which, when present in sufficient concentration in the subject material exhibiting the phase
transformation, produces a stabilized crystalline phase that does not undergo a transformation or inversion at any temperature
within the expected fabrication or usage regime of the manufactured pellet. The potentially deleterious volume change is therefore
avoided.
4. Chemical Composition
4.1 The starting zirconium oxide powder shall be in accordance with Specification C1065.
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 July 1, 2009Jan. 1, 2015. Published August 2009January 2015. Originally approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 20042009 as
C1066 – 97 (2004).C1066 – 09. DOI: 10.1520/C1066-09.10.1520/C1066-09R15.
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C1066 − 09 (2015)
4.2 A stabilizing additive shall be used with the zirconium oxide. The recommended stabilizing additive is either calcium oxide
(CaO) or yttrium oxide (Y O ). The recommended additive concentration in the case of CaO stabilization is 4 to 8 weight %. In
2 3
the case of Y O stabilization, the recommended additive concentration is 14 to 20 weight %.
2 3
4.3 Use analytical chemistry methods as agreed upon between the buyer and seller.
4.4 The impurity concentration excluding the stabilizing additives, shall not exceed 0.5 weight %. Individual element limits are
specified in Table 1. The buyer may specify additional limits for any other elements not listed in Table 1.
4.5 The moisture concentration is included in the total hydrogen limit (see Table 1).
5. Physical Requirements
5.1 Physical Dimensions:
5.1.1 Dimensional requirements shall be in accordance with applicable drawings and purchase order documents.
5.1.2 Pellet dimensions shall be measured to ensure compliance with the buyer’s requirements. Sampling plans to meet the
acceptance criteria shall be agreed upon between the buyer and the seller to ensure that the pellets represented by the sample are
within the required tolerance.
5.2 Density:
5.2.1 Pellet density limits shall be specified by the buyer. The incorporation of a stabilizing additive will introduce a change in
the theoretical density of the fabricated pellets and should be taken into account. The method of establishing the theoretical density
value shall be agreed upon by the buyer and seller.
5.2.2 The method of density measurement shall be Test Method C559 or an alternative method submitted by the seller for
approval by the buyer. Sampling plans to meet the acceptance criteria shall be agreed upon between the buyer and the seller. The
method of density measurement and the method of compliance with 5.2.1 shall be approved by the buyer prior to use.
5.3 Mechanical Properties—Required mechanical properties and test methods shall be mutually agreed upon between the buyer
and the seller. A compression test at 69 MPa (10 000 psi) to ensure pellet integrity is recommended as a suitable test if the pellet
is not to be subjected to service temperatures above 1100°C (2012°F). At higher temperatures, a thermal cycling test as given in
Appendix X1 followed by a compressive test may be agreed upon
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