This technical report is divided into two sections addressing two different chemical effects of nuclear transformations. The first section discusses the beta decay of lanthanum to cerium. The second section discusses the beta decay of selenium to bromine.

From statement of objectives: The purposes of the work described in this report are to provide data useful for designing and operating the dissolver solution clarification equipment to be installed in the Redox production plant.

Optical and morphological properties of 28 compounds of uranium, plutonium, americium and some related elements, belonging to 21 isomorphous groups, are described. Additional data are given on 5 compounds of similar type described in the National Nuclear Energy Series, Division IV, Volume w, Chapter 19, “Actinide Elements.”

This examination was conducted primarily to determine the extent of corrosion existing between the silver bearing alloy and the type 416 stainless steel nut of K reactor units subjected to service conditions and also to establish irrevocably that metallurgical defects exist in the brazes.

The introduction of aluminum in hot process water has been studied extensively and numerous reports have been issued on the subject. The conclusions reached have been largely empirical and can only be used to state what is happening under the given conditions existing in the corrosion experiments. It is only with difficulty and a great deal of uncertainty that these empirical results can be used to predict what will occur under a different set of conditions. If the fundamental mechanism of aluminum corrosion in water were known, it is possible that more accurate predictions could be made and that steps might be taken to affect the controlling factors and thus reduce the severity of corrosion. To keep the system as simple as possible one would attempt to study the corrosion mechanism by corroding aluminum in pure water. However, this is undesirable because of the extremely low corrosion rate of aluminum in pure water and the large water supply and treatment facility required to supply sufficient high purity water for circulation about the corrosion samples.

Specifications are presented for cleanliness during installation of piping and equipment in the High Level Volatility Laboratory, Bldg. 4507.

At the present time, high-radioactivity-level wastes at Hanford are neutralized and stored as liquid in underground tanks lined with mild steel. This method of storage is relatively inexpensive and is satisfactory on a short-term basis. However, on a long term basis, liquid storage is less desirable than solid storage because of the greater mobility of the liquid. In addition, storage as aa solid would significantly reduce the volume of waste stored. Consequently, various research and development studies have been undertaken in an attempt to develop a practical waste solidification.

From abstract: "The divalent metal ions of calcium, magnesium, nickel, and strontium are eluted from a cation exchange column with 1.5M nitric acid and separated from trivalent rare earths, aluminum and yttrium. Prior sequential elution of other metal ions with hydrochloric acid in acetone-water or with dilute hydrofluoric acid does not interfere with the present separation method."

The following report is the third Quarterly Report in a series whose investigative purpose is to determine the extent to which zirconium and zirconium alloys exhibit delayed failure as caused by a combination of absorbed hydrogen and applied stress.

The self-diffusivities of Co60 and Ni63 in cobalt--nickel solid solutions exhibit a greater activation energy below the Curie temperature (T/sub c/) than above. Values of DELTA Q = Q (ferromagnetic) -- Q (paramagnetic) are approximately equal to RT/sub c/. This observation is interpreted to indicate that the increment in activation energy arises from an increase in the formation energy of a vacancy in the ferromagnetic lattice, with the additional binding energy arising from the interaction of a spin with the Weiss field."

"The diffusivities of Fe, Co, and Al in otherwise pure Au were determined by a residual activity technique. It was found that the frequency factors and activation energies of the transition elements into Au are normal relative to the values for Au self-diffusion, and suggest that lattice diffusion is operative, in contrast to the corresponding situation for the diffusion of these elements in Al. This difference in behavior is explained in terms of the marked difference in solid solubilities in the two series."

Two methods for measuring target efficiencies are briefly discussed. The second method puts an upper bound on the efficiency and permits observation of instantaneous efficiency, thereby aiding location of losses. Measurements agree well with conventional radiochemical values.