Abstract: "Thorium tubes were cold drawn from extruded tube stock and also from drilled hot-rolled rod. Total reductions up to approximately 85 per cent were accomplished by conventional tube-drawing methods, without an intermediate anneal. The hard-drawn tubes had high tensile strength, but the ductility, as indicated by flaring and flattening tests, was low."

From abstract: "The stability of polystyrene and phenolic ion-exchange resins to radiation from a Co60 source and from absorbed Ce144-PR144 was investigated. Sulfonated polystyrene cation-exchange resins lost 10 to 20% of their capacity per watt-hour of radiation absorbed per gram of oven-dry resin, while the quaternary amine anion-exchange polystyrene resins lost about 40%. Phenolic cation-exchange resins lost only 1%."

Abstract: "The valve-actuated pulse column is employed to give phase separation on each half cycle in the countercurrent flow cycle and provides independent control over each step in the cycle. The dependence on temperature of operation, on pulse frequency and amplitude, and on plate design and spacing has been studied for extraction and stripping of uranium with tributyl phosphate in a hydrocarbon diluent. It is found that the efficiency increases quite significantly as the temperature is raised regardless of the direction of transfer and this increased efficiency is accompanied by greater operational freedom. A decrease in hole size, decrease in plate separation and increase in frequency all lead to higher efficiency in agreement with the concept that small drops continually formed coalesced and reformed, lead to maximum interphase transfer. The high extraction efficiency of the column is probably aided further by the relatively sharp pulse produced."

Introduction: "In connection with conducting neutron experiments in a pit with earth and concrete walls, it was proposed that the background flux of neutrons might be reduced by lining the walls of the pit with a neutron absorber such as boron. To determine how much liner material would be desirable and what diminution in the neutron background could be expected, the following measurements were undertaken."

Report discussing tests conducted in an attempt to adapt a micromanometer for use in measuring variations of about 0.003 mm Hg in atmospheric pressure. Additionally, a method for making full use of the micromanometer sensitivity and extending its range is described.

Summary: "An analysis is made of the heat transferred by natural convection flow inside a small vertical tube with internal heat generation. The reduction in temperature is found to be small."

When an aqueous solution containing dissolved irradiated uranium and nitric acid is equilibrated with 30% tributylphosphate solution in kerosene, the distribution co-efficients for sirconium and niobium are decreased by the addition of phosphoric acid to the system.

An analytical method for Cu-64 in reactor effluent has been studied based upon electrodeposition of the active copper with inert copper carrier. A two hour plating time was employed at a current density of 10 ma/sq cm and four volts across the cell. A stainless steel cathode plate was used. Carrier yields of greater than 80% were obtained with a standard deviation of the yield-corrected counting rate as low as 0.24%. Very little, if any contamination by other radioactive elements present was shown by decay curve studies. Self-absorption and self-scatter factors to correct the counting rate were obtained.

The purpose of the short duration corrosion test was to obtain preliminary data regarding the corrosion resistance of the spring steel wire in Purex process waste solutions and to measure any changes in the tensile properties of the wire resulting from this exposure.

The results of this investigation indicate that maximum electric power generation can be obtained by selecting the turbine steam temperature within a range of plus/minus 30 degrees C. from an "idealized" steam temperature. This "idealized" steam temperature is shown to depend primarily on the maximum permissible uranium temperature. The minimum available condenser temperature and the temperature rise of the coolant in the pile effect the selection of the turbine steam temperature to lesser extent.

Report on UCRL progress in general physics research and accelerator operation and development.

An analytical method has been developed for zirconium and fluoride ions in the system resulting from the dissolution of fuel elements in hydrofluoric acid. The method is based on determination of the density and electrical conductivity of the dissolved metal solution.