Quarterly report of the Argonne National Laboratory Chemical Engineering Division regarding activities related to properties and handling of radioactive materials, operation of nuclear reactors, and other relevant research. This report discusses fuel cycle studies including advanced solvent extraction techniques focused on the development of centrifugal contactors for use in Purex processes, dispersion of reagents as a result of explosions, and identification of organic solutions suitable for the separation of actinides from fission products.

Quarterly report of the Argonne National Laboratory Materials Science Division, including studies on ceramic (refractory) and metallic materials for use in coal-conversion processes as well as studies of erosive wear, nondestructive testing, corrosion, refractory degradation, and failure analysis.

Quarterly report on the activities of the Argonne National Laboratory Materials Science Division regarding studies on ceramic (refractory) and metallic materials presently being used or intended for use in coal conversion processes. The program entails nondestructive testing, failure analysis, and studies of erosive wear, corrosion and refractory degradation.

Quarterly report on the activities of the Argonne National Laboratory Materials Science Division regarding studies of erosive wear, nondestructive testing, corrosion, chemical degradation, and failure analysis.

Progress report on the activities of the Argonne National Laboratory Materials Science Division regarding studies done on refractory concretes and metallic materials being used or intended for use in coal-conversion processes, erosive wear, nondestructive testing, corrosion, chemical degradation, and failure analysis.

This report discusses the development of ultrasonic testing, acoustic microscopy, dye-enhanced radiography, holographic interferometry, and infrared scanning techniques for flaw detection in silicon carbide (SiC) heat-exchanger tubing. Both preservice and in-service testing requirements are discussed. An ultrasonic boreside probe and an acoustic microscope stage have been designed for continuous monitoring of SiC tubing. Preliminary results with these acoustic systems are presented. In addition, a novel technique for detecting small surface flaws using holographic interferometry is discussed. Fracture mechanics analysis suggests that detection of flaws on the order of 100 um is necessary to assure good reliability of ceramic heat exchangers. The acoustic and holographic techniques have been shown to be capable of detecting flaws of this size. However, the sensitivity of ultrasonic flaw detection in SiC is affected by the microstructure of the component. The practical considerations involved in the use of these techniques are discussed.

The domain and surface structures of metallic sodium tungsten bronzes, NaxWO₃, 0.4 < x < 1, were studied using optical microscopy, supplemented by chemical methods, photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, etc. The birefringent, multidomain structure of the bronze is exhibited by a sodium-deficient, epitaxial surface film and hence is not, as reported elsewhere, a bulk property. The film can be synthesized by anodic electrolysis in alkaline solution and can exist only epitaxially with the substrate. It is chemically inert, translucent, and often laminated to a multilayered film. The film domain is hypersensitive to lateral stress and to thermal change, and appears to be modulated by minute structural changes of the substrate. This epitaxial modulation of the film is strikingly large at the phase transitions of the substrate induced by slightly different tiltings of the oxygen octahedra. The domain-wall movement is often slow enough to be visible, and that by thermal effect is occasionally accompanied by an audible, high-pitched, snapping sound.

Annual report of the Argonne National Laboratory Radiological and Environmental Research Division regarding activities related to molecular physics and chemistry. This report summarizes work on the chemical physics of atoms and molecules, especially their interaction with external agents such as photons and electrons.

The decision to locate a fossil-fueled electrical power plant on a particular site involves trade-offs among the costs of: (1) land acquisition, (2) plant construction, operation, and maintenance, (3) power transmission, and (4) air pollution damage to humans, animals, plants and materials. The fourth of these, pollution costs, has been of great concern in recent years. But seldom, if ever, are the specific dollar trade-offs between the environmental and the other costs associated with site selection taken into account. The sum of the costs of power generation (land, construction, operation, maintenance), power transmission, and air pollution damages (from sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates) is the total social cost of a fossil-fuel plant; this total cost will generally vary by site. This paper presents an analysis of the total social cost, and the trade-offs between generation/transmission and air pollution costs, for various types of fossil plants at different sites in northern Illinois. The analysis identifies the combinations of site, fossil fuel, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) control technology that minimize total social costs.

Annual report of the Argonne National Laboratory Radiological and Environmental Research Division regarding activities related to ecology. This report includes studies on the effects of sulfur dioxide on Midwestern grain crops and the addition of the new research vessel, the Ekos.

Annual report of the Argonne National Laboratory Radiological and Environmental Research Division regarding activities related to molecular physics and chemistry. This report discusses a study on the physical properties and the chemical reactions of atmospheric constituents, with emphasis on the role of pollutants arising from the use of fossil fuels. Special effort is being placed on understanding nucleation phenomena through the study of the molecular properties of gas phase clusters.

Annual report of the Argonne National Laboratory Radiological and Environmental Research Division regarding activities related to the Center for Human Radiobiology. This report discusses studies on radium dial painters and other persons with industrial or medical exposure to intake of radium.

Annual report of the Argonne National Laboratory Radiological and Environmental Research Division regarding activities related to molecular physics and chemistry. This report discusses studies on electron collisions with molecules, photo-absorption and its consequences such as photo-electron emission, and pertinent theories.

This conference covers various aspects of fossil-fuel power plants based on coal or coal-conversion products, as well as the process control equipment involved in the conversion or combustion processes.

Costs and benefits of various urban air pollution control policies have been examined in Phase 1 of the Environmental Pollutants and the Urban Economy study being conducted jointly by Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago. The need for sound economic evaluation of air quality regulations is evidenced by the resistance of many industries to pollution control policies based solely on the technical feasibility of achieving public health-related standards. For many firms that emit air pollutants, the cost of not complying with some regulations is significantly less than the cost of compliance. This final report on the Phase 1 research presents highlights of what has been learned, the mechanisms developed for transferring results to users, a bibliography of documents produced during the project, and a collection of correspondence, articles, and evaluation illuminating the use of project work by others.

Annual report of the Argonne National Laboratory Radiological and Environmental Research Division regarding activities related to molecular physics and chemistry. The papers in the present volume are ordered in accordance with the subjects treated. Papers 1-6 concern electron energy-loss spectroscopy; papers 7-24 photoabsorption, photoionization, and photoelectron analysis; papers 25-34 electron collisions and related topics; papers 35-36 the delivery of radiation energy to matter; and papers 37-40 energetic collisions of atoms and molecules.