Determination of the minimum sample mass of U3Si2 to be used as candidate reference material for chemical analyses of total uranium and total silicide

Abstract

To guarantee the reliability and comparability of analytical data, the use of reference materials is essential. Uranium intermetallic compounds, in particular U3Si2, have been the preferred fuel materials for high flux research reactors. A method for the quantitative determination of the minimum representative sample mass of a candidate for reference material for determination of total uranium and silicide is described and illustrated in this paper. The analytical method used for determination of total uranium was the high precision potentiometric titration method of Davies and Gray, while total silicide was determined gravimetrically. The study was conducted according to ISO Guide 35. A preliminary test for homogeneity can be performed after homogenization as an integral part of the candidate reference material preparation.