ASTM C637-20

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Designation: C637 − 14 C637 − 20
Standard Specification for
Aggregates for Radiation-Shielding Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C637; 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 covers special aggregates and/or high-density aggregates for use in radiation-shielding concretes in which
composition or high specific gravity, or both, are of prime consideration.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 The text of this standard refers to notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 9, of this specification: 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C127 Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
C128 Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
C131 Test Method for Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles
Machine
C136 Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
C219 Terminology Relating to Hydraulic and Other Inorganic Cements
C535 Test Method for Resistance to Degradation of Large-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles
Machine
C638 Descriptive Nomenclature of Constituents of Aggregates for Radiation-Shielding Concrete
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminologies C125 and C219.
4. Classification
4.1 Aggregates covered by this specification include:
4.1.1 Natural mineral aggregates of either high density or high fixed water content, or both. These include aggregates that
contain or consist predominately of materials such as barite, magnetite, hematite, ilmenite, and serpentine.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.20 on
Aggregates.
Current edition approved June 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2020. Published June 2014February 2020. Originally approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 20092014 as
C637 – 09.C637 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/C0637-14.10.1520/C0637-20.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C637 − 20
4.1.2 Synthetic aggregates such as iron, steel, ferrophosphorus and boron frit or other boron compounds (see Descriptive
Nomenclature C638).
4.1.3 Fine aggregate consisting of natural or manufactured sand including high-density minerals. Coarse aggregate may consist
of crushed ore, crushed stone, or synthetic products, or combinations or mixtures thereof.
5. Composition and Relative Density (Specific Gravity)
5.1 Table 1 gives data on chemical composition and relative density (specific gravity) of aggregate materials covered by this
specification.
5.2 The purchaser shall specify the minimum specific gravity for each size and type of aggregate.
5.2.1 Uniformity of Specific Gravity—The relative density (specific gravity) SSD (saturated surface-dry) of successive
shipments of aggregate shall not differ by more than 3 % from that of the sample submitted for source approval tests. The average
specific gravity of the total shipment shall be equal to or greater than the specified minimum.
5.3 The purchaser shall specify the minimum fixed water content of hydrous ores. If the design temperature, T, is different from
that given in 9.1.3.5, the purchaser shall specify the value of T.
5.3.1 Uniformity of Fixed Water Content—For hydrous aggregates the fixed water content of successive shipments of aggregate
shall not be less than 95 % of the specified minimum value. The average fixed water content of the total shipment shall be equal
to or exceed the specified minimum value.
6. Aggregate Grading
6.1 Sieve Analysis—Fine and coarse aggregates for conventionally placed concrete shall be graded within the limits given in
Specification C33, except that with the approval of the purchaser, as much as 20 % of the material passing the 9.5-mm ( ⁄8 -in.)
sieve may also pass the 150-μm (No. 100) sieve, with up to 10 % passing the 75-μm (No. 200) sieve if the material passing the
75-μm (No. 200) sieve is essentially free of clay or shale.
6.1.1 Fine and coarse aggregates for preplaced aggregate concrete shall be graded according to the requirements of Table 2 and
as follows:
Grading of Aggregate
Relative Coarse Fine
Density Aggregate Aggregate
(Specific
Gravity)
of Fine
Aggregate
Up to 3.0 Grading 1 Grading 1
Greater than Grading 1 Grading 2
3.0
Full range Grading 2 Grading 2
TABLE 1 Composition and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Aggregates Covered by This Specification
Relative Density
Predominant Chemical Composition of (Specific Gravity) of
Class of Material
A
Constituent Principal Constituent Available
Aggregates
B
Serpentine crushed stone, hydrous siliente Mg Si O (OH) 2.4 to 2.65
3 2 5 4
C
Limonite crushed stone, hydrous iron ore (HFeO ) (H O) 3.4 to 3.8
2 x 2 y
C
Goethite crushed stone, hydrous iron ore HFeO 3.5 to 4.5
Barite gravel or crushed stone BaSO 4.0 to 4.4
Ilmenite crushed stone, iron ore FeTiO 4.2 to 4.8
Hematite crushed stone, iron ore Fe O 4.6 to 5.2
2 3
Magnetite crushed stone, iron ore FeFe O 4.6 to 5.2
2 4
Iron manufactured from iron/steel Fe 6.5 to 7.5
D
Ferrophosphorous synthetic Fe P 5.8 to 6.3
n
E
Boron Frit synthetic B O , Al O , SiO , CaO 2.6 to 2.8
2 3 2 3 2
Boron Carbide synthetic B C, B O , C 2.5
4 2 3
Calcium Boride synthetic C B , C 2.5
a 6
A
When it is necessary to minimize the production of long-lived secondary radiation in the shield, or to avoid using materials having inherent radioactivity, the purchaser
should specify limits on the contents of objectionable elements.
B
The fixed water content of serpentine ranges from 10 to 13 percent by weight.
C
The fixed water content of limonite and goethite ranges from 8 to 12 percent by weight.
D
Ferrophosphorus when used in Portland cement concrete will generate flammable and possibly toxic gases which can develop high pressures if confined. See
Clendenning, T. G., Kellam, B., and MacInnis, C., “Hydrogen Evolution from Ferrophosphorous Aggregate in Portland Cement Concrete,” Journal of the American Concrete
Institute, No. 12,December 1968. (Proceedings, Vol 65, pp. 1021–1028), and Mather, Bryant, discussion of Davis, Harold S., “Concrete for Radiation Shielding—In
Perspective,” and closure by author in “Concrete for Nuclear Reactors,”Journal of the American Concrete Institute SP-34, Vol 1, 1972, pp. 11–13.
E
The fixed water content of boron frit is less than 0.5 %.
C637 − 20
TABLE 2 Grading Requirements for Coarse and Fine Aggregates
for Preplaced Aggregate Concrete
Percentage Passing
Grading 2
Grading 1
For 25-mm (1-
Sieve Size 1
For 37.5-mm (1 ⁄2 -in.)
in.) Nominal
Nominal Maximum Size
Maximum Size
Aggregate
Aggregate
Coarse Aggregate
50-mm (2-in.) 100 . . .
37.5-mm (1 ⁄2 in.) 95 to 100 100
25.0-mm (1-in.) 40 to 80 95 to 100
19.0-mm ( ⁄4 in.) 20 to 45 40 to 80
12.5-mm ( ⁄2-in.) 0 to 10 0 to 15
9.5-mm ( ⁄8-in.) 0 to 2 0 to 2
Fine Aggregate
2.36-mm (No. 8) 100 . . .
1.18-mm (No. 16) 95 to 100 100
600-μm (No. 30) 55 to 80 75 to 95
300-μm (No. 50) 30
...