3.1 Aluminum oxide pellets are used in a reactor core as filler or spacers within fuel, burnable poison, or control rods. In order to be suitable for this purpose, the material must meet certain criteria for impurity content. These test methods are designed to show whether or not a given material meets the specifications for these items as described in Specification C785.

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

3.2 Aluminum oxide-boron carbide composite pellets are used in a reactor core as a component in neutron absorber rods. In order to be suitable for this purpose, the material must meet certain criteria for boron content, isotopic composition, and impurity content as described in Specification C784.

3.2.1 The material is assayed for boron to determine whether the boron content is as specified by the purchaser.

3.2.2 Determination of the isotopic content of the boron is made to establish whether the ¹⁰B concentration is in compliance with the purchaser's specifications.

3.2.3 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 aluminum oxide and aluminum oxide-boron carbide composite pellets to determine compliance with specifications.

1.2 The analytical procedures appear in the following order:

Sections

Boron by Titrimetry and ICP OES

7 to 16

Separation of Boron for Mass Spectrometry

17 to 22

Isotopic Composition by Mass Spectrometry

23 to 26

Separation of Halides by Pyrohydrolysis

27 to 30

Chloride and Fluoride by Ion-Selective Electrode

31 to 33

Chloride, Bromide, and Iodide by Amperometric Microtitrimetry

34 to 36

Trace Elements by Emission Spectroscopy

37 to 49

Keywords

50

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.4 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (For specific precautionary statements, see Section 5.)