Approximately 15 minutes after shutdown on August 21, 1962, evidence of a rupture was observed in the form of high radiation levels in the containment vessel and rupture monitor indications. Discharge of a special MgO-PuO{sub 2} test element revealed a cladding break of about 1.5 inches in length and about 1/4 inch wide in the widest place, located 36 inches from the top of the fuel element as it would have been oriented in the reactor. A visual examination in Radiometallurgy revealed that approximately 9.25 inches of fuel material or about 0.55% of the entire fuel element had escaped. The quantity of fission products released from the rupture is presented, and the quantities and radiation levels from the individual fission product isotopes are calculated and presented.

Theoretical investigation on the nature of ion exchange of acidified uranyl sulfate solutions with Dowex 21K, a strong base ion exchange resin.

The factors which affect the transformation of amorphous alumina to crystalline alumina in the temperature range 350 to 650/sup 0/C were studied. Amorphous alumina, with small amounts of added impurities, was heated in an atmosphere containing the oxides of nitrogen, air, and water vapor, and the amount of crystalline alumina was determined. Alpha alumina was the predominant crystalline form after heating amorphous alumina that was prepared in a fluid bed calciner. The effects of temperature, composition of the atmosphere, time of heating, impurities, and method of preparation of the amorphous alumina on the transformation to crystalline phases were investigated. An atmosphere containing water vapor and the oxides of nitrogen and a small amount of sodium nitrate in the alumina product were necessary to produce the alpha alumina phase from amorphous alumina at the relatively low temperature of 400/sup 0/C. Boric acid added to the fluid-bed calciner feed successfully inhibited the formation of the alpha crystalline form.

The behavior of helium in uranium and in several uranium alloys was studied metallographically after room temperature irradiation with alpha particles in a cyclotron, followed by various heat treatments. The observed gas bubbles were classified in two classes, differing in size, concentration, and mechanism of formation. These bubbles appear to resemble those resulting from fission product gases in neutron-irradiated uranium; the findings of this study seem to be applicable to the understanding of the factors affecting bubble formation and thus to the suppression of swelling in neutron-irradiated materials. (auth)

None

None

Activities in a program to develop and construct a steam generator and test loop for use with a 30-Mw sodium reactor are reported. Details of conferences held for the benefit of personnel interested in the Na components design program are given, and progress on fabrication of the steam generator is summarized. (J.R.D.)

From Synopsis: "This paper deals mainly with cement paste in terms of its porosity, internal surface area, interaction between solid substance and evaporable water and related properties."

Design and construction features are presented for a parallel-plane thermionic converter tube which has an interelectrode gap that may be precisely varied from zero to six inches. (auth) 3Z72 Thermionic diodes and pentodes (with their associated circuitry) were compared as elements in logarithmic current amplifiers. Diodes generally give greater accuracy, but pentodes have simpler associated circuitry and hence may be preferred for certain applications. Logarithmicto-linear transfer characteristics and stability were investigated for a number of tube types, and selected types were operated with heater voitage, current, and resistance separately held constant to examine the effects on long term drift. Two logarithmic current amplifiers, one of them designed for radiation resistance, are presented as well as two methods of utilizing vacuum tubes as dynamic logarithmic current sources. (auth)

The mechanisms by which the carbon dioxide coolant affects the strength properties of type 304 stainless steel were investigated in the range 1300 to 1700 deg F (704-927 deg C). Creep- and stress-rupture results obtained on sheet materials in wet and dry CO/sub 2/ and argon are compared. The effect of annealing in CO/sub 2/ on the tensile strength and ductility was also investigated. The question of whether the strengthening observed in CO/sub 2/ was due to oxidation or carburization was determined. Experiments on the effect of various partial pressures of oxygen in argon showed that the creep rate was minimum at approximately 10 ppm. The creep rate is CO/sub 2/ at equivalent stress and temperature was lower by a factor of 3 than the minimum rate observed in oxygen. Chemical analyses, metallography, and experiments with carbon showed that carburization occurred in pure flowing CO/sub 2/ in the temperature range studied. From this evidence it was concluded that the strengthening observed in CO/sub 2/ was primarily due to carburization. The creep- and tensile-fracture strains were adversely affected by exposure to CO/sub 2/, with the magnitude of the effect dependent on the time and temperature of exposure. (auth)

Declassified 26 Nov 1973. Information on the Tory-2C Reactor is presented concerning the reactor core structure, core supports, fuel assemblies, and control rods. (DCC)

This report covers the following titles: (1) Synthesis of compounds from {sup 14}CO{sub 2} by Chlorella in the dark following preillumination; (2) The effect of oxygen on formation of glycolic acid and other products during photosynthesis by Chlorella; (3) Phosphatase action on phosphoglycolic, 3-phosphoglyceric, and phosphoenolpyruvic acids in spinach chloroplast fragments in the presence and absence of high concentrations of methanol; (4) Absorption spectra of scattering samples. I. An evaluation of three different spectrophotometric techniques using Chlorella; (5) Absorption spectra of scattering samples. II. Scattered transmission spectra of leaves, chloroplasts, and quantasomes of spinach; (6) The effect of sonication of spinach chloroplasts on photosynthetic phosphorylation; (7) Concerning the occurrence of {alpha},{alpha}-tocopherol and {alpha}-tocopherylquinone in chloroplasts and quantasomes; (8) Effects of ultraviolet and gamma radiation of thymine in frozen aqueous solution and in the solid state; and (9) A rapid method for the identification of small quantities of lipid-soluble vitamins and quinones in biological material.

None

S>The compatibility of type 304L stainless steel in intimate contact with graphite is being studied as a function of temperature and contact pressure. This study is an outgrowth of materials compatibility problems in present and advanced gas-cooled reactors, where structural members in direct contact with graphite provide the possibility of both carburization and self-welding. Initial studies were concerned with surface reactions in the absence of gaseous contaminants under a vacuum of 10/sup -6/ mm Hg at 540 to 705 deg C. Stainless steel specimens are pretreated to provide three surface conditions: H/sub 2/- fired, preoxidized, and Cu-plated. Surface contact pressures ranged from 0 to 10,000 psi. Test results are presented which establish the lower temperature limit for significant diffusion between graphite and stainless steel at approximately 60O deg C. Above this temperature, diffusion between untreated or H2-fired stainless steel surfaces was found to effect complete bonding of the two materials at contact pressures as low as 500 psi. Bonding was effectively prevented by the presence of either an oxide film or a Cu plate at temperatures up to 700 deg C. Where bonding occurred, diffusion rates measured for C in stainless steel were comparable with those reported for stainless steel …

From introduction: The broad objectives of the Survey's program are to provide the basic geologic and geophysical information needed to define the pre- and post-shot geologic and physical properties of salt and other rocks affected by the explosion. To provide geologic and hydrologic information on the pre- and post-shot hydrologic conditions at the Gnome site and surrounding region.

None

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Will Wilson, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Implication of the recent United States Supreme Court's decision regarding prayer in the public schools of New York, and related questions.

This report addresses the analytical chemistry of Cobalt.

Aqueous zirconium fuel processing studies, directed at adapting the hydrofluoric acid process to continuous dissolution-complexing in order to increase the capacity of the ICPP process, resulted in determination of dissolution rates over a wide range of conditions. The addition of oxidants to 4.8M hydrofluoric acid used for the continuous dissolution of 3% uranium-Zircaloy- 2 fuel decreased the amount of uranium-containing residue in the dissolver at the expense of a decreased dissolution rate. Oxidized fuel was dissolved in 4.8M hydrofluoric acid by use of heat to initiate the reaction: the oxide film remained behind as a dissolver residue. Uranium in the dissolver product was oxidized to the extractable form by one minute treatment at 92 deg C with aluminum nitrate complexer solution: only 59% was extractable after 24-hour treatment at room temperature. Several hundred hours operation of a continuous bench scale unit indicated that uranium buildup should not be a problem in the dissolver since an apparent equilibrium was soon established. After 650 hours of operation, a Monel dissolver showed some signs of localized corrosion but exhibited generally good resistance. Preliminary results in a study of aluminum alloy dissolution rates, initiated because of unusually slow dissolution of certain aluminum-based fuel elements, …

>Brief summaries are presented on isotopic dilution studies on salts dissolved in JCH/sub 3/OH, studies on metal and metal salts in solvents of the amine type, and studies on phosphato complexes of the pentammine Co(III) series. A list of papers published on reactions of solvated ions is included. (N.W.R.)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Will Wilson, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether Article 6252-4, Vernon's Civil Statutes, applies to employees of Independent and Common School Districts.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Will Wilson, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Construction of Art. 2307 Title 122A, V.C.S.

A report pursuant to Work Request, dated 9/17/62, covering the effects of thermal shock on a KIWI B-5 shield capsule filled with lithium hydride pellets is attached.

This report, for August 1962 from the Chemical Processing Department at HAPO, discusses the following: Production operation; Purex and Redox operation; Finished products operation; maintenance; Financial operations; facilities engineering; research; employee relations; and safety and security.