It has a current primary focus on developing internationally recognized test methods for comprehensive characterization of graphite and manufactured carbon materials used in nuclear and other high-technology applications.
The Subcommittee, composed of international experts in specialty graphite and manufactured carbon materials research and development, includes leading scientists from the UK National Nuclear Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory (US), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US), representatives of other international governments and academic institutions, graphite end-users, and producers of specialty carbon products.
The very high degree of structural uniformity and extremely low levels of elemental impurities of the Miller graphite prompted the Subcommittee to select it for use during the development of a test method for the chemical analysis of nuclear grade graphites and manufactured carbon materials.
Chemical analyses are underway at a number of international laboratories simultaneously, after which the results will be tabulated and prepared for submission under ASTM guidelines. The Committee will meet again in December 2015, at which time it may approve the designation of the thermally purified Miller hydrothermal lump/vein graphite as Standard Reference Material ("SRM") for survey chemical analysis of high purity graphites and manufactured carbon materials.
Canada Carbon Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Duncan said: "This is part of the ongoing process of academic review of our Miller graphite and we are gratified that our graphite has been proposed to become the first ever ASTM Standard Reference Material for natural nuclear graphite.
"We look forward to receipt of the final characterization results and certification documentation. If the Miller hydrothermal lump/vein thermally upgraded graphite obtains ASTM SRM designation, our graphite will become the standard to which all other natural graphites are compared, when considered for nuclear and other high-technology applications."
