ASTM B614-05

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Designation:B614–05
Standard Practice for
Descaling and Cleaning Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy
1
Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B614; 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 emulsion soak-type cleaners, (2) ultrasonic cleaning, (3) ac-
etone, citrus based cleaners, or safety solvent immersion
1.1 This practice covers a cleaning and descaling procedure
washing or vapor degreasing, or (4) electrolytic alkaline
useful to producers, users, and fabricators of zirconium and
cleaning system. In the electrolytic system, the work can be
zirconiumalloysfortheremovalofordinaryshopsoils,oxides,
either anodic or cathodic polarity provided voltage and current
and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign
density are controlled to avoid anodizing. Removal of these
substances present as surface contaminants.
soils is recommended prior to heat treatment or application of
1.2 It is not intended that these procedures become manda-
acid treatment designated in Section 4. When electrolytic
tory for removal of any of the indicated soils but rather serve
systems are employed, the voltage should be controlled to
as a guide when zirconium and zirconium alloys are being
prevent the occurrence of spark discharge and subsequent
processed in the wrought, cast, or fabricated form.
pitting. The use of trichloroethylene is not prohibited and can
1.3 It is the intent that these soils be removed prior to
be used; however its use is hazardous enough to preclude it as
chemical milling, joining, plating, fabrication, and in any
a recommended solvent in this standard. Care must be exer-
situation where foreign substances interfere with the corrosion
cised when using chemical solvents. There are hazards associ-
resistance, stability, and quality of the finished product.
ated with their use, such as flammability, carcinogenicity, and
1.4 Unless a single unit is used, for example, solution
ozone depletion (see 6.1.)
concentrations in g/l, the values stated in either inch-pound or
SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values
3. Blast Cleaning
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each
3.1 Mechanical descaling methods such as sandblasting,
system must be used independently of the other. SI values
shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot
cannot be mixed with inch-pound values. The temperatures in
work scales and lubricants from zirconium surfaces if followed
Notes 1 and 2 are exact equivalents because they reflect data
by thorough conditioning and cleaning as described in Section
obtained from a specific temperature.
4.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2 Aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silica sand, zircon
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sand, and steel grit are acceptable media for mechanical
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
descaling.Periodicreplacementofusedmediamayberequired
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
to avoid excessive working of the metal surface by dull
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
particulate.
statements, see Sections 2 and 6.
3.3 Roughening of exposed surface areas may occur from
2. Processing Soil Removal grit or shot if cleaning of the entire surface is accomplished by
blasting. Partial cleaning for preserving the surface finish is to
2.1 Grease, oil, and lubricants employed in machining,
be preferred in conjunction with proper pickling procedures.
forming, and fabricating operations on zirconium and zirco-
3.4 Any abrasive or shot blast cleaning may induce residual
nium alloys should be removed by employing one of the
compressivestressesinthesurfaceofthematerialorzirconium
methods or a combination of methods as listed: (1) alkaline or
structure. Warpage may occur in sections that are subsequently
chemical milled or contour machined.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 on Reactive
3.5 In most cases, blast cleaning is not intended to eliminate
and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
pickling procedures completely. However, there are cases
B10.02 on Zirconium and Hafnium.
whereblastcleaningdoesnotneedtobefollowedbyapickling
Current edition approved May 1, 2005. Published June 2005. Originally
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as B614 – 95 (2000).
DOI: 10.1520/B0614-05.
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