The basic scheme for processing power reactor fuels at Hanford includes the removal of inert endfittings ("hardware") from the active sections of the fuels. Within Hanford Laboratories, research and development studies have been in progress on various types of saws which might be used for hardware cutoff. In the initial phase of the program, high-speed saws were investigated; more recently, studies on low speed saws have been conducted. This report summarizes the high speed saw studies and includes information on abrasive wheels, diamond wheels and metal "friction" blades which cut by actually melting metal ahead of the saw blade. At the completion of the low speed saw testing program currently in progress, basic saw types will be compared and the saw type to be included in the reprocessing complex will be selected.

On July 31, 1959, an autoclave ruptured while being used for thermal cycling studies of Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor (PRTR) plutonium-aluminum fuel elements. Since stand-in materials were being used in this test, no contamination was involved. This accident could lead to inference of greater hazards associated with PRTR fuel designs than had previously been postulated. An ad hoc technical investigation committee was appointed by the Manager Reactor and Fuels Research and Development, to study the autoclave failure. The committee was charged with developing a sound technical explanation of the accident and/or recommending experimental programs to test hypotheses of the physical and chemical processes leading to the rupture of the autoclave.

In connection with different seals for C & D equipment it appears advantageous that many parts could be made of rubber or other elastic polymers. However, data on the deterioration rate of these materials under irradiation are somewhat scant in the available literature. It appears that for neutrons and pure gamma radiation that a good grade of natural rubber stands up best in all the test reported and because the results of the neutron irradiation are so closely correlated with results from gamma it has been proposed that the principal source of damage is caused by secondary irradiation generated within the rubber by the neutrons.