This technical report constitutes a brief review of the work undertaken, entirely or in part, under the Contract AT(30-1)-1772 with eh United States Atomic Energy Commission. The work published during 1959 is listed at the end of this report and copies of the reprints or reports are attached where available. These investigations have been concerned with the examination of defect production and behavior as it may be observed by high frequency ultrasonic attenuation and velocity (modulus) changes in such materials as quartz, silicon, germanium, alkali halides (especially NaCl and XCl), high purity aluminum, and glass containing boron. The irradiations used are cobalt 60 gamma-ray irradiation and the reactor irradiation obtained in the Brookhaven National Laboratory graphite reactor.

The chief purpose of this contract is the development of ceramic materials with high dielectric constant and high dielectric strength values, and suitable for use of dielectrics in capacitors capable of storing large amounts of energy in small volumes. Work performed during the fifth quarter included (1) Material development and sample preparation; (2) Sample testing; (3) Optical studies of titanates; (4) Fabrication of large ceramics; and (5) Capacitor design.

The chief purpose of this contract is the development of ceramic materials with high dielectric constant and high dielectric strength values, and suitable for use of dielectrics in capacitors capable of storing large amounts of energy in small volumes. Work performed during the fourth quarter included (1) Material development and sample preparation; (2) Sample testing; (3) discussion of ceramic density measurements; (4) Optical studies of titanates; (5) Fabrication of large ceramics; and (6) Capacitor design.

The adsorption of acetic and oleic acids on the surface of thoria was studied by means of infrared spectroscopy. An infrared analysis of the adsorbates before and after adsorption using differential double bean methods indicated that the adsorption of organic acids on thoria surfaces occurs by an esterification reaction between the organic acid and the hydroxylated thoria surface. Ammonia vapor will not adsorb on thoria, indicated the basic character of the hydroxylated surface.

Attempts to secure a high degree of synchronization of cell division of the Krebs mouse ascites carcinoma, by combined use of aminopterin and citrovorum factor, and by use of colchicine and N-acetyl colchinol, were unsuccessful. In the course of the work, a new method for securing smears of ascites tumor cells was out, which we believe will be found useful

This is the thirty-seventh progress report of the Laboratory for Nuclear Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Progress during the period of June 1, 1955 through August 31, 1955 is reported on: (1) Chemistry of the fission elements group, (2) Nuclear chemistry (inorganic) group, (3) Nuclear chemistry (organic) group, (4) Cosmic ray group, (5) Elementary particle scattering group, (6) neutron physics group, (7) ONR generator group, (8) Radioactivity group, (9) Cyclotron group, (10) Synchrotron group, (11) Theoretical group, (12) Personnel listing.

Infrared spectra of solid NaXO2(Ac)3, with X=U, Np, Pu, and Am, have been observed. From the symmetric and asymmetric stretching frequencies of the O-X-O groups, approximate X-O force constants have been calculated and were found to decrease in the order kU—O>kNp—O>kPu—O> kAm—O, the respective values being about 0.705, 0.698, 0.675, and 0.612 megadyne/cm. From the cell constants for NaXO2(Ac)3 it is apparent that the X-O bond distance decreases in the same order—RU—O>RNp—O>RPu—O>RAm—O. Thus, a decrease in bond distance appears to be accompanied by a decrease in force constant, probably because the bond, though shortened by contraction of the electron shells of the metal, is weakened by interaction with the extra valence shell electrons.

A method is described for recovery of uranium from sulfuric acid leach liquors of Congo ores using anion exchange resins. Excellent uranium recoveries were obtained in cyclic tests which indicate uranium capacities of 11 to 26 lbs. of U3O8 per cubic foot of resin per day. Preliminary tests indicate that sulfuric acid may be as effective as hydrochloric acid in providing the required acidity in the eluant.

The investigation of magnesitic-dolomite uranium ores from Union Miniere du Haute Katanga, Belgian Congo, was undertaken in order to examine the possibility of separating the uranium minerals from the carbonate minerals by Heavy Media Separation or froth flotation; thus reducing the sulfuric acid consumption during the uranium leach. In addition, the effect of carbonate leaching the whole ore and carbonate flotation products was examined.

"A series of glass compositions containing uranium oxide was investigated to determine fiberizability and physical properties of resultant fibers. The basic properties to be determined were the maximum U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ content in a fiberizable glass and the maximum service temperature of the fibers. Glasses containing 60 wt% U/sub 3/O/sib 8/ were fiberizable; the fibers had strengths of 100,000 psi at 1600 deg F. Fiber-forming equipment was installed at Moun Laboratory to produce glass fibers containing PuO/sub 2/. Fibers were successfully formed in the first trials. For additional work a series of base glasses were provided affording a wider range of both PuO/sub 2/ solubility and physical properties."

"lsotope dilution techniques are described for the assay of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides and organic phosphorus pesticides in foods. Results are given for the determination of tetranitro-DDT-dianilide, dianilide of tetranitro- DDE, dieldrin, systox, and derivatives of these compounds. "

"Progress is reported on: design of a continuous flow system for the irradiation of silane using a Cos5 source; pile irradiation of silane samples at elevated temperatures; investigation of materials other than silane, including nonsilicon compounds as well as those containing the silyl group; modification of the existing vacuum system for handling larger quantities of silane as well as increasing the accuracy of the pressure measurements; and use of an electric discharge for the decomposition of silane. The work performed during the period of this report consisted of the following: 1. Preparation of samples of trichlorosilane and hydrogen and subsequent thermal and irradiation studies, and analysis of these samples. 2. Preparation of mixed samples of silane and argon and subsequent thermal and irradiation studies and and analysis. 3. Outlining of future investigations to be conducted on this project."

""Progress is reported on: design of a continuous flow system for the irradiation of silane using a Cos5 source; pile irradiation of silane samples at elevated temperatures; investigation of materials other than silane, including nonsilicon compounds as well as those containing the silyl group; modification of the existing vacuum system for handling larger quantities of silane as well as increasing the accuracy of the pressure measurements; and use of an electric discharge for the decomposition of silane. Studies were continued on the radiation- and thermalinduced decomposition of sikane at 325 and 350 deg C. A preliminary value of G= 33 was obtained for silane."

"Rates of acetylene polymerization induced by Kr/sup 85/ in d-c fields were up to 15 times greater than those observed when no fields were imposed. Work to determine the relations between acetylene pressure, Kr/sup 85/ concentration, and the field intensity is continuing. In other activities, equipment is being designed to study the effects of megacycle electric fields on radioinduced chemical reactions."

"A comparison of the grafting of a 2:1 molar mixture of methacrylic acid and styrene to both polypropylene film and fabric using CO60 source and electron accelerator as sources of ionizing radiation is made on the basis of mutual or simultaneous grafting and post-irradiation grafting.

"As presented in the original proposal the project consisted essentially of three parts: Phase I, Development and refinement of a radiochemical flow counting technique for the study of kinetics of reactions in solution ; Phase II, The application of this technique to the detailed study of the mechanism of solvolysis of sulfonium salts in mixed solvents ; Phase II, The further application of this kinetic technique, as a longer term aim, to other reacting systems of biochemical or other interest. This report covers the work of the contractual period 1 Sept. 1959 to 31 Aug. 1960."

Tests were conducted to determine the friction factor of randomly packed beds of 3/4-inch diameter spheres in 8-inch and 15-1/4-inch diameter beds, and of 1-1/2-inch diameter spheres in 15-1/4-inch diameter bed. The bed depths were varied in an attempt to isolate the effects of entrance and exit losses. The bed Reynolds number, base on sphere diameter, was varied from 5,000 to 50,000.

The purpose of this experiment is to study the quantitative adsorption characteristics of a carbon adsorber bed receiving a radioactive inert gas in a helium stream. An objective of the experiment is to measure the equilibrium transmission of the radio-active gas through a carbon adsorber in order to determine if radio-active decay of the adsorbed gas permits additional adsorption.

This report describes the design, construction and operation of a sub-critical nuclear reactor, intended for college teaching of reactor physics and of nuclear phenomena.

The study which has been carried out under Contract AT(30-1)2477 has as its objective the review of all work which has been done on the application of radionuclear techniques to research in water resources and supply, the evaluation of this work, and the suggestions of specific experiments which must be performed if these applications are to be extended.

This technical report presents the process design for the thorium semi-works plant which will be located at the Feed Materials Production Center, Fernald, Ohio. It contains the process information required for the layout and detailed mechanical design of the thorium plant.

Annual report describing progress on unclassified research programs funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission during the 1965-66 fiscal year.

The following progress report describes the examination of elements removed in comparison to a previous study on the power facility reactor operations.

"In the following report, a new technology is discussed which was first proposed in 1959, but which has been developed mainly since 1964; the in situ production of oil from shale by large underground retorts created by nuclear explosives. The first part of the present report describes this new process; the second part gives an analysis of the United States and the world endowments with crude oil resources and oil shale deposits and finally, the third part deals with expected cost estimates of this new technology as compared with present crude oil prices and potential costs of conventional shale oil production."