From abstract: "This project was a study of electrostatic classification of submicron aerosols. Classification of particles as small as 0.006-[mu]-diameter was shown to be feasible, and good classification of atmospheric dust was achieved. However, a practical solution to the problem of overlapping between particles larger and smaller than 0.1 [mu], the point of minimum electric mobility, was not found."

The following report is the first semi-annual report of a literature survey designed to investigate the uses and technology of radioisotopes in the countries of the world from 1955 to the present. This survey includes two phases: 1) involves the direct comparison of radioisotopic work in all fields in various countries as demonstrated at international conferences. 2) involves a more detailed examination and evaluation of the individual fields of interest selected previously (Phase II is also expected to comprise the bulk of the remainder of this investigation).

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

Abstract: "The purpose of this investigation is to determine the extent to which zirconium exhibits delayed failure (static fatigue) as caused by a combination of absorbed hydrogen and applied stress. Both notched and unnotched specimens of unalloyed zirconium and Zircaloy-2 are being initially hydrogenated to 200 ppm by means of a modified Sieverts apparatus, and delayed failure studies are proceeding at room-temperature. Thus far only preliminary data on unnotched, unalloyed zirconium are available; at the 200 ppm hydrogen level, this material appears to be relatively insensitive to delayed failure at room-temperature."

From abstract: "This report summarizes the past year of study of fine, molded, multicrystalline graphites with particular reference to the interrelation among certain properties with the composition, fabricating techniques, and thermal treatments found to influence them."

The following report is the ninth in a series of monthly reports covering the program with the objective of developing alloys having superior 680 F water and/or 750 to 900 F steam corrosion resistance, as well as developing higher strength alloys for current temperature ranges while still maintaining corrosion resistance comparable to that of Zircaloy-2. This report was made covering the period December 1 to December 31, 1960.

Quarterly report describing progress on a project to develop and evaluate high-temperature tungsten alloys. This report discusses initial experiments to compare different alloy combinations.

The following report describes the injection and trapping of high current electron beams in order to construct an electron gun and the first 2 Mev section of the accelerator.

The following objectives were planned for this project. (1) Development of spinning data necessary for spinning Columbium and Columbium-1% Zirconium tubing from ingot, forged or welded tube blanks. (2) Determine mechanical & metallurgical properties of spun Columbium and Columbium-1% Zirconium tubing. (3) Determine dimensional and tolerance limits possible to attain on spun Columbium and Columbium-1% Zirconium tubing based on our present equipment, tooling limitations, and the spinning tests performed for objective No. 1.

The use of uranium mononitride as a nuclear fuel is being considered for a number of high temperature applications. In comparison with the most often applied high temperature fuels, UO2 and UC, one finds that UN has a combination of the high melting point of UO2 and the thermal conductivity and high uranium density of UC. However, interest in UN is often dampened by qualitative indications of its low thermal stability and by lack of experimental thermodynamic data. Is is the purpose of this study, therefore, to provide a quantitative measure of the thermal stability of UN and to establish some of its thermodynamic properties.

This report follows a series of tests run to determine the shielding properties of beryllium oxide, conducted at the Battelle Lid-Tank Shielding Facility. Neutron and gamma penetrations through and behind beryllium oxide were measured.

This is a report of work completed during the period October 1, 1961, to December 31, 1961. The Program fuel element was completed and assembled. After extensive analysis, it was concluded that the fuel was satisfactory for use in the Program.

This report covers the S-I-5-B-M fuel irradiation in the GETR Maritime Loop during the second quarter of fiscal year 1962. The data are summarized in Section II. Discussions on fuel performance, fuel environment (water chemistry), problems with loop operations, and the crud deposition program are included.

Work performed during the quarter is summarized by: direct measurement of fission gas pressure, loop operations, performance of UO2 fuel, UO2 grain growth and melting studies.

Introduction. With the development of fission and subsequently of thermonuclear explosives, a very large source of cheap energy has become available. The problem of using this energy for peaceful purposes safely and economically presents itself as one of the most interesting and important of our time. In explosions the energy is released very suddenly. Conversion of this sudden release of energy at extremely high temperature and pressure into the form of useful work, either mechanical or chemical or thermal, must be accomplished in order for such explosions to have nonmilitary uses. The technical feasibility of such conversions in a number of different instances will be described in this article. At the same time one must be able to control nuisance effects. Examples of these are seismic effects, the blast and heat which at least in the atmosphere always accompany such explosions, and the problem of radioactivity. Even given the technical feasibility of these accomplishments, which in some cases seems quite clear from what is known already, one must prove economic feasibility. That is to say, one must show that the cost of certain nonmilitary undertakings will be considerably less by the use of nuclear explosions than by conventional methods.

Abstract. The preparation and properties of a new explosive, liquid over the range -65 degrees F to +165 degrees F, are presented. This explosive, called NTN, is a 5/1/1 mole ration of nitromethane, tetranitromethane, 1 -nitropropane. The sensitivity and stability of NTN meet military requirements.

Work performed during the quarter is summarized by direct measurement of fission gas pressure, loop operations, performance of UO2 fuel.

The primary purpose of this joint USAEC-Euratom program is to obtain a better understanding of the maximum achievable operating characteristics of UO2 as a reactor fuel. During the program work will be performed in two areas that have been of concern to reactor core designers for a long time, namely, fission gas release and central melting in fuel rods.

"Design work was completed and construction initiated on a prototype field altimeter based on the gas density dependence of Townsend discharge current in an electrical discharge. The design of an ion tracer air velocity meter for laboratory applications, and construction of three units were successfully completed. Theoretical and experimental support is presented, showing the applicability of the ion tracer system to the accurate measurement of linear gas velocity. The operating range of the laboratory meter is 150 to 2500 ft/min at ambient pressures between 200 mu and 30.0 mm Hg. Further investigations on the application of the ion tracer concept to flowrate measurements are presented. By generating velocity profile curves with an ion tracer calibrated thermoanemometer, it was possible to determine the flowrate for 2 flow and pressure conditions; 37.5 cfm at 19.6 mm and 75 cfm at 9.8 mm Hg. Comparison with a calibrated Rotameter technique was within 5% in both cases. Also presented are some preliminary investigations leading to the development of a generalized ion tracer flowmeter for low gas densities. Results of some supplemental electrical discharge experiments in rarefied atmospheres are described. It was observed that electrical oscillations could be produced in a low density gas discharge, …

This document will be concerned with the design, operation and maintenance of an automatic fuel element stamping machine. In order to take advantage of automatic unloading and length checking at the Acme-Gridley lathes in the 313 Building, automatic stamping of fuel elements is desirable. This, along with the need for a permanent canning line identification, resulted in a request for a machine to automatically stamp HAPO fuel elements on a production basis.

During normal operation the NPR will function as a closed system and the coolant will be maintained at a high degree of purity. Periodically, however, the system will have to be opened for fuel element discharge and/or decontamination. During these periods the reactor will be operated on single pass cooling. The use of deionized and deoxygenated water as the single pass coolant is not economically feasible due to the large quantities of coolant that will be required. At present it appears that filtered water will be used for this purpose. Since filtered water contains substantial amounts of dissolved solids (approximately 100 parts per million), and since it is saturated with air, this type of operation will have to be investigated with regard to corrosion problems. A particularly serious problem will be present after the system has been decontaminated, since the high temperature oxide films will have been removed and the bars metal surfaces will be exposed to the coolant.

Considerable work has been done on decontamination procedures for both corrosion products and fission products. Testing of promising procedures under typical rupture conditions is an important phase of this work. The Irradiated Rupture Prototype (IRP) has been used since August in this evaluation work. This document is one of a series reporting these data.

"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."

One of the problems encountered in the design of the EGCR has been the possibility of bowing in the outer six rods of the seven rod cluster. The power distribution in an outer rod is asymmetrical with respect to the center of the rod. This causes a variation in the cladding temperature, and might result in unven thermal expansion, or bowing.