Infrared spectra of solid NaXO2(Ac)3, with X=U, Np, Pu, and Am, have been observed. From the symmetric and asymmetric stretching frequencies of the O-X-O groups, approximate X-O force constants have been calculated and were found to decrease in the order kU—O>kNp—O>kPu—O> kAm—O, the respective values being about 0.705, 0.698, 0.675, and 0.612 megadyne/cm. From the cell constants for NaXO2(Ac)3 it is apparent that the X-O bond distance decreases in the same order—RU—O>RNp—O>RPu—O>RAm—O. Thus, a decrease in bond distance appears to be accompanied by a decrease in force constant, probably because the bond, though shortened by contraction of the electron shells of the metal, is weakened by interaction with the extra valence shell electrons.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, John Ben Shepperd, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Legality of obtaining Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance coverage for county appointive officers and employees presently covered by a county retirement fund established pursuant to Article XVI, Section 62(b), Tex. Const.

The purpose of this investigation is to make a preliminary study and evaluation of the application of ultrasonic equipment and associated handling equipment to the problem of decontaminating reactor tube dummy pieces. Reactor Section is currently planning the construction of batch process nitric acid facilities for dummy decontamination. It was felt that use of ultrasonics together with a solution less corrosive than nitric acid might provide adequate decontamination at lower project cost than the presently proposed nitric acid facilities. This report gives the progress of the investigation to date.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, John Ben Shepperd, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether S.J.R. No. 14 as it pertains to the Texas Turnpike Authority prohibits the State Highway Commission from spending further funds as authorized under Sec. 20 of House Bill No. 4 of the 53rd Legislature.

The successful completion of a program of experiments, including the Aircraft Reactor Experiment (ARE), has demonstrated the high probability of producing militarily useful aircraft nuclear power plants employing reflector-moderated circulating-fuel reactors. Consequently, and accelerated program culminating in operation of the Aircraft Reactor Test (ART) is under way. In order to adhere to the compressed schedule of the accelerated program, it is essential that the Atomic Energy Commission approve the 7500 Area in Oak Ridge as the test site by February15, 1955. This report summarizes the hazards associated with operating the contained 60-Mv reactor of the ART at the proposed Oak Ridge test site.

A two-etchant surface preparation treatment has been found which insures good adhesion between the zirconium and the nickel or copper electroplate. The etching process requires 1 1/2 minutes.

Experimental studies on continuous denitration performed in 321 Building resulted in the development of an agitated-through-type calciner. The performance of a paddle-agitated 4-in.-diameter by 44-in.-long reactor was sufficiently promising to warrant construction of a 16-in.-diameter by 8 ft.-long semi-plant scale model. This progress report summarizes the results of studies to date employing the semi-plant scale calciner.

An attempt to apply quantitatively the equation of state of a free electron gas to relatively low temperatures in order to emphasize correlation effects.

Abstract: "The analysis of an immobilized plasma is here extended to the case where the geometry is cylindrical rather than Cartesian. (This report, UCRL-4439 (Rev, 4 constitutes Part II of the report series (UCRL-4466, Parts I, III, and IV) dealing with this general problem.)"

A report discussing and area of 2.5 square miles along the southwest border of the pre-Cambrian granitic rocks complex in the pre-Cambrian core of the Harney Peak region, Black Hills, South Dakota that was mapped to determine the relationship between the granite-pegmatite complex and the pegmatites containing beryl and other industrial minerals. This investigation was part of the U.S. Geological Surveys program for the investigation of domestic beryllium resources and was carried out on behalf of the Atomic Energy Commission.

The following report describes the process of epoxy resin casting of high-voltage transformers, bushings, and potheads.

Uranium was plastically deformed 90% at room temperature by unidirectional rolling to a foil 0.002-inches thick. Specimens were recrystallized in the alpha region and several pole figures obtained from 0 to 40 degrees. From these, the preferred orientation was found to be in a spread of idealized (11) [010] about [010].

A study was performed to determine the economic incentives associated with in-pile boiling, with the explicit assumption that this method of operation was technically feasible. A non-boiling reactor plant was used as a comparison, and the net electric generation was held constant at 400 Mw. The economic effect of variations in specific power from 47 to 32 kw/ft., and steam qualities of 10 to 60% were studied. The results showed that, under the conditions used, the unit power cost during single purpose operation would be in the range 5.9 to 6.1 mils/kw-hr at the generator bus-bar, compared to an estimated 6.6 mils/ kw-hr. for the non-boiling plant. These gains are realized under conditions of relatively high specific powers, greater than 32 kw/ft., relatively modest bulk outlet steam quality (greater than 20%), and high-pressure steam (1000 psia or higher) used directly in the turbines. During the dual market period, the power rate is about the same. An increase of 0.2 mils/kw-hr. is indicated when the specific power is lowered- Capital investment savings of perhaps four to five million dollars may be possible, but savings of this magnitude have little effect on the over-all power cost. The power cost savings stated above …

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, John Ben Shepperd, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Duties of County Auditor, approving claims, bills and accounts against the county and related questions.

The Homogeneous Reactor Test (HRT) is the experimental reactor facility (Frontispiece) being designed and constructed at ORNL as the next step in homogeneous reactor development between the 1-Mv HRE and a "full-scale" power station. The HRT will provide an integrated test at 5 to 10 Mv for the flowsheet and equipment designs on which the full-scale effort will be based. Furthermore, its design is such that several homogeneous systems which require essentially the same operating equipment may be tested with comparatively minor modifications of the original reactor installation. The reactor will be assembled in the building which housed the HRE, located in the experimental reactor exclusion area approximately one mile south of the oak ridge laboratory. (See figure 1) / It is the purpose of this report to provide information with which the hazardous aspects of this reactor may be evaluated. Briefly, it will be shown after a statement of purpose and a general description of the reactor that: 1. The design characteristics and equipment requirements are such that escape of highly reactive material from the reactor piping is unlikely. 2. Should the entire core and blanket contents suddenly escape from the reactor system, a seal-welded steel tank surrounding the …

A capital cost breakdown of the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant, a directly maintained remotely operated plant for processing spent enriched uranium fuel assemblies from reactors, is presented. The capital investment in the plant, including design, construction, training, and preoperational costs, an estimate of the direct costs incurred by the Atomic Energy Commission, and a proportional part of the costs of Central Facilities, including the value of the land and improvements theorem when acquired by the Commision, was $31,105,899. The cost of design and construction was $25,212,231, of which $3,773,357 was expanded on design and inspection.

The extraction of americium nitrate with tributyl phosphate has been investigated for aqueous solutions containing sodium nitrate and nitric acid. Americium nitrate is found in the organic phase as free molecules or ions and as the complex (Am(NO3)3. Aqueous solutions containing nitric acid introduce a competitive factor through the formation of the TBP-KNO3 complex in the solvent layer. In addition. americium nitrate is complexed in the aqueous phase by nitric acid.

During an experiment involving alpha phase annealing (at 610 to 655 deg C for 5 and 10 min) of beta-quenched uranium, it was determined that the relatively coarse, irregular shaped grains (0.08 to 0.150 mm in diameter) in the beta-quenched structure, were replaced by fine equiaxed grains (0.04 to 0.09 mm in diameter).

This report describes an aerial radiometric survey that was taken in Niobrara County, Wyoming, between December 27, 1954, and January 18, 1955.

Abstract: A part of the Green River Basin airborne reconnaissance project, re: memo to Phillip L. Merritt, March 12, 1954, Proposed Airborne Reconnaissance Project, Green River Basin, Wyoming, was completed during the months from July though October 1954. No uranium mineralization of commercial value was found.

Report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Mines discussing asbestos mining and production in Arizona. As stated in the summary, "this paper describes most of the chrysotile-asbestos deposits of Arizona. Mining methods are discussed briefly and asbestos-mill flowsheets are incorporated" (p. 1). This report includes tables, maps, illustrations, and photographs.

Part 1. The neutron fission cross section of U237 has been measured in a thermal neutron spectrum and in a somewhat degraded fission spectrum. The fission cross section for thermal neutrons is found to be <2 barns; the ratio of the fission cross section of U237 to that of U235 in the degraded fission spectrum is found to be 0.476 +- 15% which corresponds to [formula] in this spectrum equal to 0.66 +- 0.10 barns. Part 2. The average neutron fission cross section of U237 has been measured in a neutron energy range extending from approximately 100 ev to fission spectrum. the average fission cross section in this spectrum is found to be 0.70 +- 0.07 barns. Part 3. The low thermal fission cross section for U237 (<2 barns) indicated that the excitation function for fission probably shows an effective threshold. If the excitation function is like all other heavy element (Z > 90) neutron fission excitation functions, it will exhibit a region of approximate constancy starting at a neutron energy of 0.5 to 1 Mev above its effective threshold and extending to a neutron energy in the neighborhood of 5.5 Mev. A hypothetical excitation function for neutron fission of …

Monthly newsletter of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, discussing the field of underground water. Topics include profiles of water conservation research, annual pre-plant soil moisture survey data, annual Winter Water Level measurement data, and information about the latest water conservation tips.

Discussing the diamond drilling projects of the Dripping Springs area of the San Rafael swell.