Summary: "This report investigates photographic methods of measuring beta radiation and includes a study of temperature effects on these measurements. Experimental data are submitted to show that an increase in film temperature before and during beta irradiation causes a definite increase in density for the same dosage. Recommendations drawn from experience gained in the experimental works are offered."

Technical report describing that the use of controlled amounts of carbonate, acting both as complexing agent buffer led to a fairly satisfactory procedure for the determination of Th in Th-U alloys, using cupferron. The alloy, dissolved in NHO2, in the presence of HF, is treated with H2SO4 and the mixture is evaporated in SO2 fumes. The solution is diluted and (NH4)2CO2 is added. Th is precipitated from this solution with cupferron. The precipitate is weighed as ThO2 after ignition. An accuracy of 6% was obtained. A method was developed specifically for the determination of Th in U-Th alloys containing 1 to 10% Th. An ion exchange resin in column is used to separate Th from U, with NH2OH-HCl as complexing agent. The Th is then precipitated, ignited, and weighed in the conventional manner.

The utilization of gloves wherein heavy element additives have been included is a significant means of reducing exposure to hands and, consequently, increasing allowable working time in operations which require direct contact with low energy isotopes - such as plutonium. The number of such gloves available has been limited considerably by the feasibility of fabrication and the practicality of application. The following study was made on two basic gloves - the first, a heavy zinc-neoprene coated glove and the second, a lead loaded neoprene glove available in two thicknesses. Included in the study was a standard 30 gauge neoprene glove.

The PWR Plant was operated at approximately 60 MW net electrical output for a total of 1000 EFPH from February 3, 1959 to March 28, 1959. During this period, while performing DL-S-225, there were two planned shutdowns, no safety shutdowns or safety insertions and one flux title. The performance of the plant was satisfactory during the period of the test.

The purpose of the test was to determine if failed blanket elements exist in other regions of the core beside F-2. FEDAL sampling ports that have indicted the greatest deviation as determined in a statistical analysis performed on a number of traverses in the FEDAL system will be tested. Data obtained from the start up runs of the FEDAL sample port Nos. 11, 31, 36 and 37 of Monitor 2 and port Nos. 14, 46, 11, 49 and 7 of Monitor 1 gave no indications of a blanket element failure. At each power increase, the radiation increase was normal with no signs of bursts or peaks of radiation which would indication the failure of a blanket fuel element.

This review lists some of the salient features of semiconductor particle counters and cannot claim to contain an exhaustive listing of all the work in the field. Performance results on the surface-barrier counters as developed at California Institute of Technology are included as typical for this type of counter, though comparable results have been obtained elsewhere.