From introduction: This work is a survey of possible uses of ceramic materials in Hanford-type fuel elements.

Abstract: "Aluminum-clad nickel-plated uranium is corrosion resistant in boiling water. Samples with intentional defects in the aluminum-nickel clodding layers, after testing for more than 300 hr. showed no sign of rapid failure. The study of electroplated metals on uranium for aluminum cladding has defined the effects of several processing variables on the corrosion resistance. The quality of the uranium and the quality of the aluminum-nickel bond were important. Heat treatment and vacuum outgassing of the nickel-plated uranium prior to aluminum cladding were beneficial, and minimizing the amount of air present in the hot-press assembly was desirable. Variation in the steps for electroplating on uranium did not affect the corrosion resistance of aluminum-clad uranium."

Monthly report the progress and development of improved zirconium alloys for service in superheated water and steam. This report covers the period between April 1 to April 31, 1961 and was conducted by the United States and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).

This report follows a preliminary study on uranium migration in pressed and sintered UO2-bearing bodies based on MoSi2 or Al2O3.

Abstract: "Differential thermal-expansion effects in brazed joints involving Type 310 stainless steel and GE-62 brazing alloy were investigated. The work included dilation and modulus-of-elasticity measurements using homogenous cast specimens and observations on bimetallic cantilevers made of the two constituents. No anomalies were found, although there were irregularities in the expansion of the brazing alloy which were ascribed to a solubility phenomenon. The elastic modulus of the brazing alloy was determined. Cantilever deflections with temperature and with load were measured, and the results were interpreted using equations which treat the specimens as true bimetals consisting of two homogeneous components. The difference in thermal-expansion coefficients obtained in this way from the temperature-deflection data was consistent with the dilation measurements. The load measurements yielded an average elastic modulus for the bimetal which was about two-thirds of what would have been expected from knowledge of the components. This discrepancy probably arose from porosity which was observed in the braze components."

Technical report surveying radio-chemical analyses by ORNL's Analytical Chemistry Division and Health-Physics Division of large volumes of rainwater for plutonium, uranium, and fission products. Overall, carrying efficiencies for Al(OH)3 scavenging of rainwater were determined for these elements, as well as for Pu and U. [From Abstract, Introduction]

Abstract: "The quantities of interest in a confined plasma include the electric and magnetic fields, current density, diffusion velocity, temperature, pressure, and particle density. Equations governing the distribution of these seven variables are given in this report and special cases of a one-dimensional steady-state plasma are examined in detail. The solutions are given in graphical form."

Abstract: "A cylindrical coil has been designed for pulsed field operation suitable for use in a model thermonuclear reactor. The coil has an eight-inch inside diameter and a length of fifty-one inches. Magnetic mirrors at the ends consist of double-layer solenoids six and one-half inches long designed to slip over the main coil. Subsequent models of this coil have been fabricated which improved the electrical insulation provided by the bonding materials and the mechanical rigidity of the coil. Peak central fields of fifteen kilogauss and mirror fields of thirty kilogauss have been obtained."

Abstract: "A titrimetric method for the determination of fluoride in plutonium is reported. Prior to a steam distillation of the fluoride, the bulk of the plutonium is separated by precipitation of the sulfate. The fluoride in the distillate is titrated at a pH of 3.2 with 0.001 M thorium nitrate, using chrome azurol-S indicator. Applied to samples containing 1 to 15 parts per million fluoride, the recovery is 87% and the precision on the 95% confidence level is +/- 0.65 ppm."

Technical report describing two experiments performed to compare the amounts of fission gases swept out of UNH solution with those amounts swept out of PU solution under idential condiditons. The charge wire technique was used. The essential date and the results are given in tables in the report.

The importance of fast neutron fission (i.e., fission caused by neutrons before being slowed down) was recognized by Szilard, and calculations similar to the present one have already been carried out by him, Feld, Ashkin, Wheeler, Wigner and others. The purpose of the present paper is to give a general formula for the contribution of fast fission to the multiplication constant, which will include all the cases already considered and will be applicable to more complicated geometries than those considered by the previous writers.

Effect of aquadag coating on noise reduction in polyethylene coaxial cable was tested. A satisfactory combination of coaxial cables and connectors interconnecting sources of small ion currents or ionizing impulses with the measuring device is described.

Introduction: "A corrosion test program, to determine the suitability of LaBour B-55 and Worthite for use in the construction of circulating pumps for th UO3 process has been completed and the data are appended."

The Redox solvent extraction process for the separation of uranium and plutonium from their fission products and from each other has operated on an over-all basis very successfully for more than four and one-half years. During this time, there have been occasional periods of high product losses and/or poor separation of fission products from uranium or plutonium as well as periods of poor operability due, among other things, to emulsification and entrainment. The search for the cause of these various process troubles has resulted in almost continuous testing of the process solvent in attempting to determine its contribution, if any, to these difficulties. This report documents the history of the Redox Plant solvent.

This memorandum summarizes the results of an analysis to determine the extent of displacement of the EOCR core due to blowdown in case of several postulated hot main gas coolant pipe failures. Results show that the core will be damaged for any hot pipe double-ended failure. Excepting the improbable case of no coolant flow existing proper to the break, the core will be damaged for any hot pipe fracture exposing a total flow area to the atmosphere equal to that of one pipe. Smaller breaks will probably be safe in this respect.

From summary: A preliminary study of the chemical stability of pile materials in the high temperature power pile has been made.

From abstract: "This report contains the theoretical analysis of a plant to concentrate deuterium from 2 atoms% to 90 atoms% by the NH3-H2 exchange reaction."

This report covers an investigation meant to find the feasibility of producing corrosion resistant zirconium from sponge by special melting techniques. The zirconium metal has certain required specifications, such as: the metal must be free from bafnium, and it must be free from other impurities of undesirable neutron cross section.

The following report describes a current beam modulation designed to replace the standard regulator and to achieve an ion beam free from amplitude modulation.

The addition of a surface active agent to an aqeous-organic interface produced a resistance to mass transfer equivalent to slightly more than 1 cm of water. Five semicontinuous Druhm runs were made with 1/2in. thick MgO liners and terminated due to either failures of the UFe nozzle or a top gasket leak. In preliminary scale-up tests of the flame calcination equipment, a maximum feed rate equivalent to 720 g oxides/hr was achieved using a 3-in. i.d. magnesia reflector with an outside wall temperature of 1500°C.

"The ion source used for hydrogen and deuterium ions in the variable energy cyclotron at the University of Rochester is of the hooded arc type. For the past year it has been operating with a new feature which has greatly improved its performance. The new feature is a magnetic mirror built into the upper end of the arc hood by a simple insertion of a steel bearing ball 1/8" in diameter. The magnetic field gradient near the ball provides a magnetic mirror action on electrons moving up the arc channel toward the ball, reflecting may of them."

A new colorimetric method for the determination of cholesterol has been investigated. It makes use of the relatively stable green color given by a purified digitonin precipitate with the anthrone reagent of Dreywood. Equal precision can be obtained with the new method using 1/10 or less of the quantity of material required for present colorimetric methods.

Progress report of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work. This report includes summaries of project activities in: aircraft reactor test design, ART physics, ART instruments and controls, component development and testing, procurement and construction, ART, ETU, and in-pile loop operations, phase equilibrium studies, chemical reactions in molten salts, physical properties of molten materials, production of fuels, compatibility of materials at high temperatures, chemistry, analytical chemistry, metallurgy, dynamic corrosion studies, general corrosion studies, fabrication research, welding and brazing investigations, mechanical properties studies, ceramic research, nondestructive testing studies, heat transfer and physical properties, radiation damage, fuel recovery and reprocessing, critical experiments.

An empirical relation is presented which represents a boundary between no vacuum sparking and possible vacuum sparking. Metal electrodes and r.f. or d.c. voltages are used. The criterion fits several orders of surface gradient, voltage, gap, and frequency. Current due to field emission is considered necessary for sparking but in addition, energetic particles are required to initiate a cascade process which increases the field emission currents to the point of sparking. An elementary cascade process is outlined, but the data upon which it is based is not fully stated.