The following report analyzes different values and measurements that give the same results for the captured cross section of thermal neutrons for Si.

Through the efforts of the Hanford Engineer Works a quantity of neptunium-237 was separated from uranium waste solutions by a modification of the standard plutonium precipitation process, This material, as concentrates, was shipped to Argonne for final isolation and purification of the neptunium.

"These notes are intended to serve as a summary of the current knowledge of properties of materials. In the future some need may exist for related information on methods od testing, design and fabrication. This issue presents information on thorium with subdivisions..."

The development of ionic methods for the determination of corrosion products in the highly radioactive Homogeneous Reactor (HR) fuels has been of major interest in the work of the Ionic Analyses Laboratory. Methods for the spectrophotometric determination of aluminum and for the polarographic determination of iron in HR fuels have been developed. The polarographic determination of molybdenum in uranyl sulfate solutions was studied. A polarographic method for the determination of zinc was developed. A fluorometric method for the determination of microgram amounts of fluoride was studied. Three organic reagents were investigated as precipitants for microgram quantities of zirconium in HR fuel. The automatic photometric titration technique was applied to the determination of thorium and of sulfate. A method was developed for the ionexchange separation and potentiometric titration of cobalt. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of technetium and rhenium were studied.

General considerations involving the transportation of irradiated fuel and radioactive wastes are reviewed. It is assumed that many reactors will supply feed to a few large multipurpose chemical plants which ultimately send radioactive waste to a few disposal sites. General economic considerations of irradiated fuel reprocessing, economic aspects of the nuclear economy complex, growth predictions of the nuclear power economy in the U.S., general requirements for the shipment of fuel and waste, regulations applicable to fuel shipment, and permissible radiation levels are discussed.

Abstract: "Fabrication techniques for producing dispersion fuel elements with cores of 30 volume per cost of UC, U2Tl, U3Si, or U6Ni dispersed in Zircology 2 and 30 volume per cent of UC or UN dispersed in Type 18-8 stainless steel have been investigated. Roll-clad plate-type elements of all these compositions may be fabricated by powder-metallurgy methods in such a manner that good core-to-cladding bonds and cores with uniform dispersions of discrete uranium-composed particles are obtained. From the standpoint of fabricability, elements containing UC is Zircology 2, UC in stainless steel, and UN in stainless steel are the most promising. The UN in stainless steel has the best corrosion resistance in 680 F degassed water; however, UC in stainless steel has the best resistance to corrosion in 700 F NaK."

From abstract: "This bibliography consists of reports compiled from the AEC Library Card Catalog. Only the Classified and Unclassified report literature is included. For the published literature the reader is referred to an unpublished paper by V. Carson (UCRL - Livermore Library)" titled "Radioactive Waste Disposal" (April 25, 1957). "All progress reports covering the work have been omitted in order to exclude a large amount of duplicate information which is usually found in more detail in topical reports."

Report discussing experiments on particle density, plasma compression, electron heating, and electron energy distribution of plasma in a pyrotron. Past experiments that led to this investigation are discussed as well.

A study was made of a method for the flame photometric determination of iron. In Part I of this report, the flame emission spectrum of iron, measured by means of a Beckman Model DU spectrophotometer with a flame attachment, is compated to that measured with an ORNL high-sensitivity, recording, single-beam instrument, in order to determine which instrument is best suited for this application. Although it was found that the Beckman product has the higher resolving power over the wavelength region of 360 to 400mu, it does no posses the sensitivity or ease of operation of the ORNL instrument. On this basis, the ORNL flame spectrophotometer is used in subsequent tests. After selecting the best-suited instrument for the flame photometric determination of iron, it was necessary to establish the optimum operating conditions for this particular method. These conditions are described in Part II.

Abstract: "The niobium-carbon system has been determined by X-ray and metallographic examination of sintered and arc-cast alloys. Two carbides exist: hexagonal Nb2C with a limited range of homogeneity, and cubic NbC with a solubility range from 8.25 to 10.25 weight per cent carbon. Dilute alloys freeze by eutectic reaction at 2230 C. The solubility of carbon in niobium is 0.80 at the eutectic temperature, but this decreases rapidly with temperature. Metallographic evidence indicates a peritectic reaction between melt, Nb2C, and NbC; alloys richer in carbon than NbC freeze by eutectic reaction."

Investigation of aqueous and steam corrosion at elevated temperature has been carried on at Hanford for several tears. A number of reports have been published on various phases of the corrosion program but, except for monthly reports, little has been written on the progress of the Corrosion and Coatings Operation alloy development program. This interim report will outline the more important current phases of the aluminum alloy program.

Introduction. High voltage silicon mass transistors have the ability to perform circuit functions similar to the gas thyratron tube. Upon being triggered the transistor junction breaks down, or "avalanches", and can conduct a large current for a short time. The rise time of the avalanche breakdown pulse can be short, and the delay between triggering and avalanching can be short and very consistent. This avalanche action is non-destructive if the amount of peak and average power being dissipated at the junction is limited by the circuitry.

In the continuing search for better methods of effecting the secondary fusion welded closure in Alsi bonded aluminum clad uranium metal fuel element, an article on "The Twin-Argon Welding Process" by J. A. Donellon was recently found in the September 1954 issue if the British Welding Journal. From a review of the article, the process appeared to have enough possibilities to warrant exploring it. Communication were established with the General Electric Company, Ltd..