None

The effect of strain rate on the tensile properties of thorium is being investigated. It was found that the yield strength increases slightly with increasing strain rate, and that tensile strength increases but to a lesser extent. The shear modulus was determined to be 4.26 x 10/sup 6/ psi. A preprocess thorium was made, giving a value of 5.0871 plus or minus 0.0002 A. Studies on the fabrication of thorium by extrusion and drawing were continued, as were studies on the extrusion cladding of thorium and uranium with zirconium. In order to determine whether or not the type of preferred orientation developed in alpha -extruded uranium rod was dependent on the actual extrusion temperature, x- raydiffraction studies were made of completely recrystallized and unrecrystallized extruded uranium. The results show that the texture developed upon deformation is not always retained upon recrystallization. The corrosion testing of various metals and alloys in liquid sodium, lead, and lithium and in molten fluorides and hydroxides was continued. The interaction of sodium with 316 stainless steel appears negligible during static testing. The testing of the molten media in thermal convection loops continues to be plagged by failures other than corrosion. The investigation of means of …

This report covers studies in the following areas: boiling consideration studies; water flow and power levels at increased header pressures; testing and time delay relay -- production test 105-502-E; slug temperature calculations; discontinuity in slug bonding; measurement of slug bond coefficients; pressure drop film studies; resistant heating of slugs; thermocouple slug; correlation of graphite temperature measurement; comparison of temperatures measured in burnout tubes at F pile; temperature readings from process tube block channel thermocouples at F pile; reliability of temperature measured by G-thermocouples; process tube thermocouples for monitoring graphite temperatures; pile operation during critical electrical power outage; studies of high density concrete shields; distortion and stress in biological and thermal shields of B, D, and F piles; and pile process specifications.