The following report describes results from a study of three types of cement (Barytes, Brookhaven, and Portland) exposed in the ORNL Reactor for periods of seven and twenty-eight days.

This report describes an instrument used for electrolytic separation. It was one of four instruments previous used and improved, yet lacked details until now. The instrument's design and operation is described herein.

Abstract: "A description of the demand computer and its functions is given. Methods of testing and adjusting, and gain and response curves for the system and its parts are included."

Abstract: This report deals with the development of a method using tracer technique for determining uranium extraction coefficients on solutions of low uranium concentration. It was found that extraction coefficients could be determined on systems containing as low as one part per million uranium using 1900 level uranium as the tracer. Results of several extraction series are presented in which aluminum nitrate is used as the salting agent and dibutyl carbitol the organic extractant.

This report describes how to achieve the variation in maximum power density and maximum heat flux of the core and blanket thorium plates in the converter reactor with irradiation time.

This quarterly progress details ongoing research at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a part of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project. Topics discussed include reactor theory and design, [part two is not included], materials research, and appendixes with information on analytical chemical studies.

This procedure is intended to be used as: 1. An instruction and guide for operation of the KER loops. 2. To aid in familiarization and understanding of the general operation of the loops. 3. To prevent lost time due to errors in loop operation. The procedure is not meant to be completely comprehensive in all details of loop operation.

It is desirable that a reactor exhibit a self-regulating effect. If this were not true any disturbance to the reactor would result in a continual increase in the magnitude of the disturbance and the reactor would be unstable. In this investigation the reactor is considered to have two reactivity feed-backs: metal temperature and water temperature reactivity effects. These two variables through a metal temperature coefficient and water temperature coefficient determine not only the reactor stability but also determine many operational characteristics.

The countercurrent gas-liquid system BF3(g)—anisole·BF3(l) for the concentration of boron isotopes has been studied. The single-storage separation factor varies from 1.039 at 0°C to 1.029 at 30°C. Rate of exchange is rapid, and, with efficient contacting equipment, complete exchange may be obtained in less than 15 sec. A total separation of 1.525 has been realized in laboratory equipment. The critical-product reflux reaction is quite efficient. Only about 55 moles of BF3 remain in each million moles of effluent solvent under laboratory conditions. The vapor pressure of BF3 over the complex rises sharply as the temperature is increased. At 0°C the pressure is 150 mm Hg, and at 40°C the pressure has risen to 1800 mm Hg. From vapor-pressure measurements, an approximate upper limit of ΔH= -12kcal per mole of complex was calculated for the reaction [equation not transcribed]. Qualitative tests indicate good resistance of anisole to decomposition by BF3 under plant conditions. The uncatalyzed exchange of boron between BF3 and BCl3 was found to be too slow to be exploited in a countercurrent system. The single-stage, equilibrium separation factor for the Nitrox system is a function of acid concentration. At 26°C the factor ranges from 1.064 with 1 M acid …

A study was made to evaluate the possibility of an explosive reaction occurring in the Hanford Purex Plant concentrators as presently instrumented. Results revealed that the occurrence of an explosive reaction in the Purex Plant concentrators with present instrumentation is very unlikely.

Abstract: A description is given of the preparation and properties of a granular form of potassium hexacyanocobalt (II) ferrate (II) that is a highly selective absorbent for cesium ion. The material is suitable for use in a large-scale ion exchange column, and offers the possibility of isolating and concentrating Cs137 from fission product waste solutions that arise from the processing of nuclear fuels.

Technical report. From Abstract : "Magnetic moment measurements have been made on single crystals of terbium (hcp) with fields of 50 to 18,000 oe applied along the <1120> (a-axis), <1010> (b-axis), and <0001> (c-axis) directions. The temperature range covered was 1.4 to 500°K."

The design of the present time of light mass spectrograph is similar to that of the isotron devised some time ago for isotope separation. The spectrograph will employ the time of flight principle only for the isotopic analysis of small samples.

The reaction of alanine-1-C14 and phenylalanine-1-C14 with acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine has been studied and the carboxyl group of the amino acid has been shown to be the exclusive source of carbon dioxide involved.

The corrosion resistance of four types of austenitic stainless steels to Purex process first and second acid concentrator bottoms was determined. Although the compositions of the two solutions were very similar, tests in simulated solutions of both compositions were conducted to strengthen the basis for the conclusions which were to be made.

The uranium recovery processes which are in operation or under construction at the present time--TBP, Redox and Purex--yield an aqueous uranyl nitrate solution as the recovered uranium product. For conversion of this recovered uranium to UF6 for feed to the gaseous diffusion plants, the uranyl nitrate in the solution is concentrated with or without prior organic stripping, calcined to UC3, reduced to UO2 with hydrogen, hydro-fluorinated to UF4 with RF, and finally fluorinated to UF6 with elemental fluorine.

Ionization measurements of water vapor in vapor-liquid equilibrium were made with a series of chambers on a tritiated water sample which was prepared by burning T2 to T2O and diluting it with H2O. A correction was made for the difference of vapor pressures of HTO and H2O. The effect of HTO adsorbed on chamber walls and electrodes was eliminated from the final result. Using Gerbes data on the number of electron volts to produce an ion pair in air, agreement obtained between the measured source strength and the source strength as computed from pressure, temperature, volume, purity, and dilution data on the original gaseous T2 sample.

Abstract: Both direct and coincidence counting apparatus are described. The elimination of cosmic ray events by coincidence plus gamma ray shielding permits the reduction of counting rates far beyond that obtainable with shielding alone. By selection of materials and development of new components and techniques, the residual background count of beta counting equipment can be reduced to a very low value. Geiger counter equipment for routine laboratory measurements is described, have a background count of 0.7 c/m. Scintillation counters are shown to have a background of 0.2 c/m at 30% efficiency. A portable Geiger counter with a 3.7 c/m background is also described.

From abstract: "The distribution of carrier-free thorium, protoactinium and neptunium in the rat following intramuscular and oral administration has been studied. Oral adsorption for all three is negligible. Following parenteral administration, the skeleton is the organ showing the highest degree of prolonged and selective localization."

Abstract: This technical report covers the investigation of 17-4 PH steel components used in the SM-1, SM-1A and PM-2A nuclear power plants, which consist of control rod drive racks, pinions, seal shafts and associated parts. Evidence supporting the continued use of 17-4 PH steel in these applications is presented. Alco's current procurement and processing specifications for 17-4 PH steel are included. The evidence presented is in the form of stress calculations, test and environmental data and the results of non-destructive and destructive metallographic analyses.

Abstract: This report presents metallurgical .analyses and corrosion tests conducted to determine :causes of failure of two SM- 1 reactor vessel studs due to fracture in the threaded areas, after 23 months' operation (March 1959). Conclusions of corrosion tests are: (1) failure of the studs was caused by stress corrosion cracking, (2) contributing factors to failure of the studs were improper control of heat treatment of the studs and absence of treatment for stress relief after thread grinding operation.

Task A: Modification and Preparation of Experimental Facility. With the exception of the insulation of modified components, the experimental facility is complete. Insulation will be completed by the end of September. the system has been charged with Refrigerant-22 and preliminary loop performance tests have been completed without the test sections.. Task B: Design and Construction of Test Sections. The stainless steel test section has been prepared complete with end flanges and pressure tap locations. Wall thickness tolerances have been ultrasonically checked. Test section inlet and discharge assemblies are being completed and the whole assembly will be ready for installation by the end of September. Glass sections from the same drawn length which will make up the final test sections have been received for pressure tests. The final coated sections and the associated inlet and discharge fittings will be ready for assembly by the end of September. The above sections were ordered after complete preliminary tests defined the properties required of these test sections. Task C: Design and Construction of Test Stand: The mechanical design and drafting of the structural components and drive system is complete. The electrical control system for the platform orientation has been constructed and two modes of …

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to present, in the light of 20 years of reactor-operation experience at ORNL, what is being done in preparation for operation of the HFIR (High Flux Isotope Reactor). This paper considers only the areas of staffing and training; development of operating and maintenance procedures; preoperational testing of water systems; and testing of remote handling tools. The preparatory work in other areas such as the hydraulic tests, neutron tests, etc., is not covered in this presentation.

The Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor is a research and development tool supporting the Plutonium Recycle Program and the research activities at Hanford. The present organization directly associated with the PRTR is composed of Operating, Technical Assistance, Maintenance, and Engineering Groups. Liaison with research groups utilizing PRTR facilities is accomplished through the Technical Assistance Group. the other three groups serve the PRTR in the manner suggest by the group name. This paper limits its interest to the staffing experience of the Operating Group.