Technical report outlining various experiments that took place in the Oak Ridge Area Critical Mass Laboratory until August 31, 1950. Experiments took place in categories of critical experiments, experimental engineering, heat transfer, radiation damage, nuclear measurements, reactor physics, ARE reactor design, circulating fuel reactors, and circulating moderator reactors. [From Summary]

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

From abstract: Close-in air blast measurements were made on the Dugout shot. Major constituents of the blast wave were the ground-shock-induced pulse and the pulse from venting gases. The ground-shock-induced pulse was the dominant one at all stations.

Report that "discusses the magnetic vector and scalar potentials, magnetic field components and their derivatives, and flux linkage for single current systems, and the mutual inductance, forces and torques between two such systems, whose axes are coplanar but not necessarily coincident" (p. 1).

In 1947 Bauer, and later independently Huntley (1948), pointed out that the helium content of iron meteorites as measured by Paneth and coworkers could be accounted for by the accumulation through cosmic-ray production rather then the decay of uranium and thorium. Bauer (1947) also predicted that the meteroitic helium should contain a significant proportion of He3. I was realized that by studying the effects of cosmic radiation on meteorites much could be learned about the history of meteorite and cosmic radiation. Chemical and instrumental techniques have been developed for the isolation, purification, and measurement of cosmic-ray-induced C14 in both stone and iron meteorites. The isolation of carbon from the silicate materials is done by fusion in an oxidizing flux in a vacuum system. From the iron meteorites the carbon is recovered by the decomposition of the metal in nitric acid in a closed system.

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.

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."

Extraction of HNO3 by triaryl amine was studied by equilibrating equal volumes of aqueous and organic phases at 25C. At HNO3 concentrations of 2 to 10 N the acid in the organic phase in excess of that equivalent in the amine concentration was proportional to the concentration of HNO3 in the equilibrated aqueous phase. other workers report similar results with nitric acid and tri-n-octyl amine in benzene. Zirconium extractions carried out at 10g Zr/1 with 0.35 M TLA nitrate in toluene showed a fourth power dependence of EZR on HNO (aq) over the range 2 to 10N. Maximum distribution ratios calculated from samarium scouting experiments using amines in kerosene were about 5 x 10(-3) for Primene JMT, 10(-4) for TLA, 10(-5) for S-24, and less than zero for DTDA. Distribution rations in the extractions ranged from ERu = 0.12 for 0.35M TLA shaken with an initially new 2N HNO3 solution for 15 minutes. Data on Zr and Ru standardization in TLA solution for spectrophotometric analyses are included.

The quantity and characteristics of fission products in coolant gases due to leaking fuel elements are discussed. It is concluded that the rare gases, the alkali metals, the halides, and Sb may act as permanent gases to a considerable extent. The other fission products are expected to condense out completely on walls or as dust consisting of metals, carbides, and oxides.

A problem proposed by E. Hart to determine whether there are locally high or low neutron densities at the corners of a cubical cavity in a graphite lattice. To simplify the computations consider an infinite two dimensional lattice with a square cavity that has a point source of neutrons at the center (see Figure 1).

From summary: "This report was prepared for the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards for their review and consideration of the potential hazards concerning the Battelle Memorial Institute Research Reactor."

Summary: A survey was made of KAPL personnel currently exposed to radiation relating to their previous work with radiation or radioactive materials.

The maximum temperature in the interior of the fuel element could be greatly reduced by incorporating a liquid between the fuel element and the outer can to increase-heat transfer rates. It is of interest to consider what liquids would be chemically compatible with graphite and the actinide carbides. Elements which melt below 1100 and boil above 1400 deg C that form no stable solid carbides, include Cu, Ga, TI, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, and compounds include GeP, GeS, GaP, Ga/sub 2/S, GaTe, GaAs, SnTe, Sm/sub 3/As/sub 2/, Sb/sub 3/Te/sub 2/, Zn/sub 3/Sb/sub 2/, Zn/sub 3/P/sub 2/, ZnS, ZnTe, and Zn/s ub 3/As/sub 2/. Some of these compounds have equilibrium pressures that might be considered too high, but they may actually vaporize slowly enough because of low vaporization coefficients to make them suitable. There are probably rot enough data nor adequate theories for predicting the rates, and Langmuir type vaporization experiments would be necessary to determine the rates of vaporization of these compounds. The main problem in the use of a heat transfer fluid is that of reaction between the fluid and the actinide carbides. Thermodynamically extensive attack would be expected. However, it may be possible to make the rate …

Report documenting the ongoing research and developments of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Homogeneous Reactor Project.

"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."

From abstract: Detailed information is given on the theory, design, parts specifications and assembly data for a new radiation detector for measurement of ionizing radiations.

Discussing holes drilled in order to evaluate the uranium potential of the Red Canyon area, in San Juan County, Utah.

Report documenting research and developments made by the Maritime Reactor Program of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Manual of operation for a neutron sensitive ionization chamber for reactor instrumentation.

The free streaming of neutrons in a cylindrical cavity is investigated. Using experimental data for the flux distribution along the walls, the direct beam hole loss and leakage into the target from the lattice is estimated for the MTA system.

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."

Discussing an examination of the J.R. Simplot claims in Happy and Hatch Canyons.

Abstract: Uranium was discovered in the Gas Hills of the Wind River Basin by Mr. Nail E. McNeice of Riverton, Wyoming while he was prospecting with a Geiger counter in September 1953. Field parties of the Atomic Energy Commission started work in the area in October 1953.