During the canning of slugs for Production Test 313-105-3-M, a high number of rejects were caused by gas voids in the A1-S1 bonding layer. Since the heat treatment of the slugs in a molten salt bath resulted in a chemically altered surface, an investigation was made to determine the volume of gas evolved from salt-bath heat-treated slugs as compared to other types of slugs. This test was designed as a preliminary test to determine if there were a significant differences.

Abstract: This technical report contains a description of the nuclear analysis performed upon the SM-2 core and vessel for the period September 1, 1958 to December 31, 1959. Calculations are given for core reactivity, power distributions, lifetime, reactor control, kinetics, radiation problems, fuel and poison burn-ups, and the nuclear effects of poisons, temperature, and geometry. Wherever possible, experimental data is included in order to test the validity of the analytical models. The SM-2 nuclear analysis was performed by Alco Products, in. under Tasks 1, 8, and 10 of Contract No. AT(30-2)-326 for the Atomic Energy Commission.

From introduction: "Due to the hydrogen overvoltage at the surface of a mercury cathode, uranium solutions is hydrochloric acid may be reduced not only to the tetravalent state, but until considerable trivalent uranium is formed. Other metallic ions act as oxidation-reduction catalysts as well as being reduced themselves. The following paper is a study of the various reactions taking place in solution and at the surface of the cathode."

Abstract. A method for the preparation of beryllium oxide of high purity is presented. Beryllium basic acetate (BeO-3Be(C2H3O2)2) is prepared from the metal or a convenient salt, a chloroform solution of this material extracted with redistilled water, the dried basic acetate distilled in a quartz apparatus, and this purified material converted to the oxide by fuming down with sulfuric acid and igniting at 1000 degrees C. Impurities detectable spectrographically were reduced to a very low level.

Measurements made in a uranium cylinder result in a mean value of 1.55 cm. for the diffusion length L for distances of 1 to 4 cm. from the base of the cylinder. Calculations give a value which agrees with the experimental result and show further that L increases from 1.40 to 1.63 cm. as the neutrons diffuse a distance of 5 cm. into the uranium.

Warping of a rod by a variation in heat transfer coefficient around the periphery is considered. Estimates for some simple cases are given, and a more precise numerical calculation is carried out in ne instance.

Technical report includes three reports of research progress: 1)Neutron scattering by A. Bratenahl; 2) Nuclear Cross Sections, Norman Knable.

Surface contamination with beryllium becomes a hazard to health only when the potential exists for resuspension in air in enough quantity and for enough time to exceed the prescribed standards for airborne exposures. There are several factors governing the rate and nature of resuspension phenomena. These factors include: the quantity and properties of the particular beryllium compound causing the contamination, the nature of the surface, activities in the vicinity, ventilation in the area which might affect the dilution of resuspended particles, and the presence of other control measures such as respiratory protection and use of wet methods. Generally, it has been found that the problem is minimal and can be easily controlled by exercising good judgement based upon consideration of pertinent factors governing resuspension, and a knowledge of the nature of beryllium toxicity.

A brief series of experiments was performed to study the high temperature reaction of the Zircaloy-uranium-aluminum system at the request of Reactor Engineering Operation, Irradiation Processing Department. Knowledge of the high temperature behavior of this combination of materials is important to the evaluation of reactor behavior during possible accidental over-heating of a fuel channel.

This report contains a listing of the bound-proton kernels for neutron scattering which were calculated in conjunction with the USAEC Control Rod Materials Program.

"The phase and amplitude functions describing the betatron oscillations in the synchrotron are calculated using the revised parameters of the Cambridge Electron Accelerator. The results are given numerically and plotted in a graph for one machine period."

A transistorized binary counter circuit is described that operates over a temperature range of -65 degree F to +165 degree F. the supply voltage is 28 + 4 volts and the maximum trigger repetition rate is 5 kilocycles. the binary circuit is pre-settable and resettable by means of a switching arrangement that can be mechanized. Texas Instrument type 904 silicon transistors whose large signal current gain is 2.8 or greater at a -65 degree F can be used in this circuit.