The following report follows a series of experiments on the freezing points of 25 UN-H2O-HNO3 solutions.

The following report describes two rapid, micro methods for the determination of UNH in Redox waste samples that had been developed fir the concentration range 0.2 to 100 g/l.

From summary: The object of the study was to determine if the heavy metal ions within the concentration ranges normally found in pile cooling water were responsible for corrosion of aluminum.

Abstract: "Laboratory production of an explosion between UNH and "red oil" under calcination conditions has been accomplished. Attempted production of a vapor phase explosion was unsuccessful below 150-160 C. Since such severe conditions are necessary to obtain an explosive reaction, it appears that present Purex plant design is adequate to avoid explosive conditions."

Report summarizing physical studies on Redox solutions and metal waste solutions, including refractometric investigations.

Entrained solids have in the past been one of the major factors limiting solvent extraction fission product decontamination. These solids are known to be surface active, to absorb fission products, and to form interfacial films or "cruds". A major step in eliminating these cruds was taken when the Purex columns were modified to operate with the interfaces at the waste ends of the columns rather than the product ends. This type of operation tended to flush the solids out with the waste rather than the product streams.

This report summarizes the research and development work carried out during June, July, and August, 1959, for Budget Activity 2790- Separations Development for Non-Production Reactors. The effort on Activity 2790 - Separations Development for Non-Production Reactors. The effort on Activity 2790 will enable Hanford to begin reprocessing in January, 1962, the fuel elements from power reactors which employ depleted or slightly enriched uranium fuels.

The monitoring of thermal and resonance neutron flux in a thermal reactor having high flux over periods of time from 1 to 12 months using think Co foils is considered. Special attention is paid to the many correction factors to be applied to the activation data; neutron temperature, effective cadmium cutoff energy, burnout of Co59 and Co60, and decay of Co60. Results on a homogeneity test of 10 mil, 0.08% Co-A1 alloy foils is given.

The preparation of radioactive metallurgical specimens for microscopic examination is one of the responsibilities of the Radiometallurgy Sub-Unit. An abrasive cut-off machine development program, based upon a previous experimental model, was undertaken to provide a method for sectioning of irradiated materials without undue personnel exposure or spread of contamination and finally to provide data for the design of an abrasive cutting unit for use in the work cells in the Radiometallurgy Building. A horizontal-feed type set-off machine, powered by a 7 1/2 hp motor with V-belt drive, has been developed for the submerged sectioning of irradiated uranium and is currently being used successfully to obtain samples for metallurgical, chemical and physical investigations without excessive personnel exposure or spread of radioactive contaminates.

Describes the current prototype model of a linear amplifier, two-channel pulse-height analyser, two-channel count-rate meter, and count-rate difference detector for a gamma-ray spectrometer monitor developed to approach the above design criteria.

In formulating this general diffusion theory expression which represents the neutron balance in a nuclear chain reactor the following assumptions were made : (1) the medium through which the neutrons are diffusing has a low neutron capture cross section, (2) the region in which the flux distribute is being described is two or three mean free paths from strong sources and sinks or from a boundary. Certainly, is going to the lattice cell of a receptor, both of the above conditions are violated; fuel elements have a large absorption cross section and most lattice cells are only two or three mean free paths to is over-all sites

Because of the relative simplicity of the X-Ray spectra and recent improvements in instrumentation, analytical applications of X-Ray of spectrography are becoming very popular. The method us applicable to both qualitative and quantitative determinations of all elements heavier than sodium. Elements in multicomponent systems, such as alloys and minerals, and elements such as, W, Pt, Nb, Ta, Hf, Zr, and the rare earths, which are difficult to separate or determine by other methods, can usually be determined directly without special sample treatment. The method is rapid and precision is comparable to wet chemical analyses. It is applicable over the very wide concentration range from parts per 10,000 to 100 percent, and can be applied to the analysis of all kinds of samples- metals, drillings and thin films, powders, glasses, or liquids. The method is described and its advantages and limitations are discussed. Typical analyses are mentioned and sensitivity limits for determination of the various elements are illustrated as a guide to possible uses of X-ray spectrography.

Facilities shall be provided in the 221-U Building for removing fuel elements from the casks as placed in the railroad tunnel from the transfer facility and moving the elements to modified existing 10' X 16' X 14' storage tanks in ten existing cells where they will be stored, until scheduled for processing.

A number of Pu-Al and UO2-PuO2 Zircaloy clad capsules have been fabricated for irradiation in the MTR. In addition, a four rod cluster containing Al 8 w/o Pu and Al 12 w/o Si 8 w/o Pu cores has been successfully irradiated and discharged from Loop 3 of the KER. A second four rod cluster is awaiting irradiation and design and fabrication of a seven rod cluster test element is underway.

Basic Studies. Sinterability studies on the isomorphous system UO2-PuO2 have continued. One-half inch diameter X 3/8'' long compacts containing physical mixtures of the two components have been heated in hydrogen. Sintered density as a function of time and temperature has been determined for times of one and eight hours up to 1600 C. In general, there seems to be minima on isothermal plots of density versus composition in the intermediate range 20-40 w/o PuO2. At concentrations greater than 40 w/o PuO2, density increases rapidly with increasing PuO2. In every case pure PuO2, (produced by decomposing plutonium oxalate at at 300 C) sintered to a greater density that ball ball milled PWR grade UO2. The data, for a one hour soak time, and tabulated in percent of the theoretical crystallographic density, can be seen below:

A study and tests of the feasibility and best method of reaming rear face Parker fittings has been made. Flow increase of 8 percent, based on maintaining the same front header pressure, can be obtained at B, D, and F reactors by reaming the rear Parker fittings to .610 inch and using existing rear face hardware. Tests indicate mechanical strength will not be significantly reduced, high frequency vibration will not be increased, and that methods of reaming are available.

It is the purpose of this report to explain the bands and uses of a digital computer program for the calculation of steady state steam-water pressure drop and critical flow in pipes. The program has been coded for the IBM 709 computer. While so attempt has been made to obtain improved models of two-phase flow, it is believed that the numerical integration technique used in the code will permit more accurate calculation where pressure drops are large compared to the upstream pressure. The technique should lend itself readily to any improved correlations which appear in the future.