This is the monthly report for the Hanford Laboratories Operation. Metallurgy, reactor fuels, physics and instrumentation, reactor technology, chemistry, separation processes, biology, financial activities, employee relations, laboratories auxiliaries, radiation protection, operation research, inventions, visits, and personnel status are discussed. This report is for November 1957.

The November, 1957 monthly report for the Chemical Processing Department of the Hanford Atomic Products Operation includes information regarding research and engineering efforts with respect to the Purex and Redox process technology. Also discussed is the production operation, finished product operation, power and general maintenance, financial operation, engineering and research operations, and employee operation. (MB)

For some time, it has been considered that cycling natural uranium fuel elements through the {alpha}-{beta} transformation point (approx. 662 C) is a contributing factor in split type ruptures. This hypothesis is based upon the fact that the transition temperature, a one percent increase in volume occurs. It is reasoned that as the uranium hardens under irradiation, it becomes progressively less able to adjust to the severe stresses imposed by the volume change as the material cycles through the {alpha}-{beta} transformation point. Failure finally occurs by a splitting of the core. The IPD is now interested in evaluating some of the effects of reactor operation upon fuel performance. It appears that the life of solid fuel elements may be prolonged if sudden changes in reactor operation can be minimized. It is the purpose of this report to bring to the attention of FPD management the new ideas being developed in the IPD on split type failures and to point out the effect such thinking may have on future fuel element development activities. Based on a discussion with personnel in PID, there is reasonable hope that the performance of solid fuel elements will not be limited by the {alpha}-{beta} transformation, and …

After the present solid slugs are replaced with the new I&E elements` in the 105-B reactor, the friction loss for the reactor cooling water will be decreased with a resulting opportunity for increase in flow through the reactor. The amount that this flow could be increased is limited by the capacity of the B water plant as well as the reactor itself. It is possible that there will be a shortage of filtered water at 183-B during the critical periods of each year. To overcome this possible shortage of water it has been proposed to construct a thirty inch tie line from the 183-C reservoir to the 183-B clear-well to supply filtered water to 183-B by gravity flow from 183-C. This report presents justification and the scope of this project.

This report describes the operation of the fuels preparation department for the month of November 1957. Manufacturing employee relations, process development, plant improvements and financial operations are described.

Several theories of metal creep and radiation damage are studied, in order to determine whether creep rates under various conditions of irradiation can be predicted theoretically. It is found that if the creep is of the recovery type, and if the diffusion coefficient for radiationinduced vacancies is large enough, creep rates may be increased within a limited temperature range. Otherwise, radiation has no effect on creep rates. (T.F.H.)

The tabulated data on radioisotopes are taken directly from the General Electric Chart of the Nuclides, Fifth Edition. The half lives, decay particles and energies, gamma energies, and total energy or mass are included in the table. (J.E.D.)

The sequence of the histologic changes which occur during the repair of moderate second degree skin burns was investigated. (C. H.)

The selection of a suitable material for the processing equipment is most important in fuel-recovery processes. The problem arises because of the aggressive nature of the reagents that must be used for disintegrating or dissolving some spent fuel elements. In this investigation, corrosion tests were made under conditions simulating those that may occur in several proposed processes in order that candidate materials of construction could be evaluated. No material has been found which would allow both the hydrochlorination and dissolution steps of the vapor-phase Zircex process to be carried out in a single vessel. For a two-vessel process, several materials, please delete the above abstract no. 4811================

Research directed toward an evaluation of a reflector control scheme for a small boiling heterogeneous reactor is reported. The control method uses the ambient reactor steam pressure to adjust the height of a radial water reflector. Critical-assembly experiments were conducted to measure the reflector worth and the effect of nonhomogeneous voids. The critical-assembly core approximated a right circular cylinder 24 in. high and 21 in. in diameter. The core was made up of polyethylene strips to simulate water channels, aluminum strips, and uranium foil. The reflector consisted of polyethylene blocks and two different densities were used to simulate two different water temperatures. The coldwater, hot non- power-producing, and boiling powerproducing reactor conditions were mocked-up. These conditions were obtained by voiding the moderator plastic strips. The results indicate that sufficient reactivity is available in the reflector to compensate for large power variations and equilibrium poisons. However, the reactivity worth is not great enough in the system considered to include startup from the cold condition or long-time fuel burnup. These experiments also show that in calculatioiis of critical mass and reflector worth the assumption of uniform void distributions seems valid for corcs of the size studied. (auth)

Study of the equilibrium phases which exist in Mg-rich alloys of the Mg-- U--Th system was continued. The precipitation of thorium as thorium dihydride from thorium-magnesium solutions was investigated over the temperature range 665 to 810 deg C. Soft, ductile niobium metal can be prepared by mixing essentially stoichiometric quantities of Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ and carbon, but slight deviation from stoichiometry yielded metal which was hard and non-ductile. The Zn vapor pressures over a number of Zn--Zr alloys were measured, and the results are summarized. An investigation of the U--Cr alloys was undertaken to establish the phase diagram and to determine the degree of ductility of some of the intermediate compositions. Alloys containing additions of small amounts of yttrium to tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium and zirconium were continued in corrosion tests. The structure of the alpha -phase compound in the V--Aa alloy was determined. The heat capacity of sodium tungsten bronze (Na/sub x/WO/sub 3/) was measured over the temperature range 1.8 to 4.2 deg K for various concentrations of sodium. Measurements of the elastic constants of single crystals of metallic Be as a function of temperature are in progress. Tensile tests were carried out on standard 0.252 m. diameter …

The effect of gas penetration on the scaling behavior of iodide zirconium in air at 900 deg C was studied. (For preceding period see AECU- 3567.) (T.R.H.)

An apparatus for rapidly mixing two solutions and recording the light absorption, which was developed by Connick and Below, has been modified. The mixing characteristics were studied and models were developed in an attempt to umder stand the observed mixing phenomena. The apparatus was applied to a study of the kinetics of the reactions Fe/sup +++/ + SCN/sup -/ = FeSCN/sup ++/ and Fe/ sup +++/ Cl/sup -/ = FeCl/sup ++/ in aqueous solution, with both reactions having the forward rate law STAd(FeX/sup ++/)/dt = k/sub 1/ (Fe/sup +++/) (X/sup -/) + k/ sub 2/ (Fe/sup +++/)(X/sup -/)/(H/sup +)!, where X/sup -/ represents either SC N/ sup -/ or Cl/sup -/. The rate constants k/sub 1/ and k/sub 2/ have been measured as a function of temperature, and the heats and entropies of activation have been calculated. Mechanisms for the observed rate law have been discussed and the entropies of activation were compared with those for analogous reaction rates and with some equilibrium entropies of complexing. A rate for chloride complexing of ferric ion was obtained from nuclear magnetic resonance studies and compared with the results of the spectrophotometric kinetic study. (auth)

Data are given on the creep properties of annealed and 15% cold-worked Zircaloy-2 at elevated temperatures. The bond strength of several specimens was determined by welding Zr studs to the cladding and pulling them in a tensile machine until the cladding and the core were separated. The effect of metallic impurities on the electrical properties of UO/sub 2/ is being investigated. A program was initiated with the objectives of obtaining basic fatigue information on Inconel and also to establish a quantitative relationship between the variables of temperature, stress strain, time, and cyclic frequency for Inconel subjected to repeated stressing. The reaction products of aqueous corrosion of U are being investigated to aid in understanding the corrosion mechanism. Data are given on the oxidation of Nb and Nb alloys in dry air. Studies of the solid- state bonding of metals have been continued with emphasis on the formulation of an expression relating adhesion physical properties and experimental conditions Data are given on the reactions of UC/sub 2/ and UBe/sub 13/ with various gases. Linear rate constants for the reaction of hydrogen with Nb are given. An investigation of the creep of tantalum at elevated temperatures is being conducted in an inert …

ABS>Seven special safety elements of the Mark II design were rebuilt and are ready for resumption of lifetime testing. Precision-cast parts were received for ten Mark IV highpressure chambers; one set was assembled and pressdre tested to 2000 psi. Two special assemblies of the NAA 1093 experiment were completed and are being shipped to Hanford. Conductivity measurements on stainles s steel were continued in an effort to determine the cause of erratic behavior of the variable-cooled trigger. A vacuum chamber was used in am effort to eliminate local heat loss due to convection. A study of corrosion rates of various container materials in liquid-metal poisons was umdertaken. Experiments with the differential-pressure device on the rate of pressure rise thnt can be achieved by electrically heating a closed gas volume were continued. An exponential generator is being constructed to enable simulation of reactor periods from 30 msec to one sec. Three types of research reactor safety device were chosen for further study: the pyrophoric, the double-diaphragm, and the electronic-explosive. Preparations are in process for demonstrating models of the latter two devices in the KEWB facility. (For preceding period see NAA-SR1954.) (M.H.R.)

Monel is shown to be suitable for the handling of 1O to 70% HF at 14O deg F and for handling 38 and 48% acid at boiling; cupronickel also is useful over part of this range. Elimination of O/sub 2/ is necessary to achieve maximum corrosion resistance. Some accelerated interface attack was noted for 70-30 cupronickel. Welding of Monel is the preferable joining method. Silver solder joints are subject to embrittlement. Work hardening, annealing, and external stress do not significantly influence the corrosion of Monel. Galvanic coupling of Monel with silver or silver solder is to be avoided. (auth)

Improvements in Glendenin's procedure for the determimation of fission product ruthenium have been made. The distillation from perchloric acid has been replaced by ABSTRACTS a more rapid distillation from a dilute suifuric acid- sodium bismuthate mixture. Conditions for the quantitative volatilization and collection of the tetroxide, as well as reduction to the dioxide, have been established. Reduction to the metal for a yield determimation is no longer necessary. The analysis time has been halved and the precision has been improved by a factor of three. (auth)

The object of the work was to determine the molecular structure of AlH/ sub 3/, using the techniques of nuclear spin resonance.'' Attempts to prepare ether-free AlH/sub 3/ that were unsuccessful are described. Also it was not possible to observe the deuterium signal in AlH/sub 3/. It was possible, by the use of the proton signal of the ether in AlH/sub 3/, to obtain the nuclear spin resonance absorption curve for AlH/sub 3/ by subtracting out the contributions of the ether protons to the resonance signai. A model is proposed to explain the features of the nuclear spin resonance absorption curve. The existence of LiAl/ sub 2/H/sub 7/, which has been postulated elsewhere, is assumed in order to explain the datu obtained from high-resolution nuclear spin resonance experimeats. (auth)

ABS>Ore from the Lakeview Mining Co. was tested in the pilot plant amd laboratory. The testing included grinding, leaching, countercurrent decantation, solvent extraction, precipitation, flotation, and molybdenum recovery. (W.L.H.)

Transportation incidents reported in the operations of the Atomic Energy Commission and its contractors from 1949 through 1956 are summarized and illustrated photographically. Most of the incidents involved the transportation of radioactive materials. (C.H.)

The problem of feeding a pulsed megnetron into a high Q (greater than 10,000) circuit was solved by incorporating a high power ferrite isolator into the appropriate microwave circuit. The PACE analogde computer has been programmed, and curves of particles displacement and velocity have been computed for field strengths from 50 to 500 kv/ cm and injection velocities ranging from 0.24 to 0.40c. Analysis of the slow-wave, dielectric, higher order mode resonator included the computation of the TE mode design curves, plots of the mode patterns, and the preparation of a five mm experiment using the rebatron. Detailed theoretical investigations of the general behavior of the Harmodotron were made. The TM and TE modes of metal and dielectric cavities were compared. Analog circuits were examined to determine the limiting efficiency for frequency conversions in crystal multipliers. A mount in which the Wollaston wire was etched directly in the mount, was designed for the bolometer detector. (For preceding period see AECU-3594.) (J.S.R.)

High-Temperatare Metallurgy. A series of Inconel loops were operated to study the variation with time of depth of corrosion, effect of flow rate on corrosion, and effect of temperature drop on corrosion using fused salts. The corrosive effects of fused salts on Hastelloy B and Ni--Mo alloys are discussed. A series of Inconel--Na and Inconel-NaK forced circulation loops was operated to study the mass transfer in the systems. The mass transfer between Na and forced circulation loop of stainless steel, Incoloy, and Hastelloys B and W is discussed. Thermal convection loop corrosion resistance studies of Ni--Mo alloy, Inconel castings, and Nb in various systems are presented. Nondestructive testing methods and equipment are discussed. Methods and equipmeat used in the inspection of materials for reactor service are presented. A distillation apparatus is described for the purification of Na. To determine the effect of concentration on the diffusion coefficients, study on the rate of diffusion of NI in liquid Pb was initiated. A study is reported to determine why the protective oxide layer of Nl, Ta, and Zr becomes disrupted. A brief survey was made of the microtopography of sulfide films formed on Nb, Ta, and Zr. A research program was undertaken …

Transistor circuits and control studies for high-speed computers are described. Combinational and distributive circuits are being investigated in relation to switching circuit theory. Mathematical methods wcre sought for determination of interval size in numerical integration of differential equations. A Monte Carlo Method for studying crystals is described. The use and operation of the Illiac during the month of December are presented. (J.S.R.)

A proposed mechanism of growth of Zr requiring the presence of a ZrN layer next to the metal was presented. In the light of the present work this mechanism now requires some qualifications since growth has been observed in pure O/sub 2/ with impure grades of Zr. While duplex scaling runs have shown that gaseous impurities, mainly O/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/, do alter the scaling reactions in air, these data indicate that growth of impure material in O/ is not caused by these gaseous impurities. Therefore, it is now necessary to study the effects of other impurities in an effort to reconcile the growth in O/sub 2/ of impure Zr and the absence of growth of the purer Zr in O/sub 2/. (auth)