In the decladding of stainless steel clad fuel elements with sulfuric acid (the Sulfex process), the loss of core material to the decladding solution is determined by the rate of reaction of the core material with the solution and the time of exposure if the core to the solution. Since very little was known about the effects of irradiation history on the rates at which core materials dissolve in sulfuric acid, the present study was undertaken in an effort to determine the magnitude of such effects. This report summarizes the results obtained to date. Further work is planned when materials of higher burn-up are available.

The first and third slugs downstream from the H-Loop ruptured and a piece of can wall from the ruptured slug were received from Pile Materials Sub-Section for metallurgical examination. The examination has been completed and the extent and type off aluminum corrosion which occurred on these samples has been determined.

The following report provides complete data and test procedure from hot water corrosion tests of type 502 stainless steel.