The requirements of an atmosphere for the brazing of Al bronze to Inconel were considered on a thermodynamic basis. It was demonstrated that brazing was not possible in a vacuum or inert gas and is improbable in dry H/sub 2/. Attempts to braze in dry H/sub 2/ prove unsuccessful as predicted, except at isolated spots where filler metal had been preplaced. Modification of the plastic binder for holding the filler metal so as to remove Oi and introduce halogen gave no improvement. Negative results were also obtained when solid halide or halogen was incorporated. Satisfactory brazing was achieved with various solid fiuxes. Consideration was given as to what must be the properties of such a flux so that it should not have deleterious affects in s ervice. (auth)

In reduction reactions of CeO/sub 2/, with calcium and a CaCl/sub 2/ flux, the use of vibrational energy was shown to have a marked effect on the yield of coalesced metal. Buttons of 40 to 50% theoretical yield were obtained from the vibrated reductions. As the flux concentration is decreased, the slag becomes more viscous containing undissolved CaO. The undissolved CaO present prevents the metal from completely coalescing, but the metal can be recovered from the slag and coalesced under CaCl/sub 2/ containing a small amount of calcium to reduce any oxide skin present. Cerium pellet yields of 50 to 60% metal were obtained by the procedure and were not difficult to handle in air. Cerium was used as a stand-in material for plutonium. (B.O.G.)

None

A large portion of the slug failures which occurred during 1955 were of the ``hot-spot`` type. Observation of these failures has shown them to be the result of intergranular corrosion attack of the aluminum jacket. Intergranular corrosion is presently considered to occur in water temperature above 150 C; a flow disturbance which causes non-uniform coolant temperatures is suspected as the cause of failure.The present of a cocked slug, or a bowed slug column, might provide this flow disturbance. 189-D laboratory tests have shown that flow seating the slug charge allows slugs to cock in the tube. It has also been found that these cocked slugs may be lifted to close proximity of the tube wall by the axial load on the slug column due to process water flow. It is believed that in cases such as this, slug and coolant temperatures may become critical. Present charging procedures allow for flow seating of the slug column. The distance the column is flow seated varied from very little to 3 or 4 inches depending on the particular charge. It is believed that this practice can lead to the situation observed in the laboratory tests. During the past two months, there has been …

Thorium nitrate, removed from irradiated Th metal processed in the Thorex pilot plant, was converted to the oxide and then to the fluoride in one pilot-plant-scale and two laboratory-scale runs. Activity distributions, decontamination factors, and safety of the process are treated. (D.L.C.)

A study of the design of the DR Water Plant made for the purpose of estimating the feasibility of effecting an expansion of capacity has shown the following: (1) The Charles T. Main Company design has incorporated spare spaces and other provisions to permit a relatively simple increase in capacity to 42,000 GPM without undue additional design or procurement being required. (2) An increase in capacity to 44,000 GPM would require considerable re-design of the 183-DR, 190-DR and interconnecting pipe lines and would incur costs which may be out of proportion to the small increase in flow attained. In view of the urgency for the completion of the design and construction of this Water Plant, further consideration of an expansion to 44,000 GPM is not recommended.

There were twenty slug jacket failures during the month of January 1952. Of these, fourteen were end cap failures, five were split slugs and one has not been removed. A total of 311.4 hours of outage time was required for removal of these ruptured slugs from the reactors. The detection, removal and radiation aspects, along with the slug data, are shown on the attached sheets.