Introduction: "The carrier (pyroelectric) concentration method is commonly used in the spectrographic analysis of plutonium metal. This report describes work which lead to substantial improvements in accuracy, precision and ease with which the analysis is made. Included are data from analyses of plutonium metal by the original and the improved carrier methods, and the cupferron extraction method."

Report describing alternative methods for depleting a large turnings inventory in a short period of time.

Report covering an experiment on a method for determining the crystallographic orientation within uranium rods. From summary: "The crystallographic orientation existing in rolled uranium rods may be determined by comparing the diffraction pattern obtained from an unknown specimen with the diffraction pattern obtained from a sample known to be randomly oriented."

Purpose: "This test was conducted to gain information and experience in the handling of heavy aggregate concrete. The results from this test were to establish procedures for a subsequent program -- "Construction Test of High Density Concrete Shielding.""

An experiment now in progress should give some accurate information about the thermal neutron absorption cross section of carbon 12. This report outlines and summarizes this experiment and analyzes it to determine the main sources of error and the probably error in the final result.

Supervision and coordination of shutdown work are often made difficult by lack of visual contact between the front face, rear face and control room. Examples of such conditions are: Removal of process tubes, where close co-separation between front and rear elevator crews is required; Locating freshly discharged slugs accidently lodged on discharge face obstructions where radiation levels are high and optical viewing equipment inadequate; Monitoring of the transfer of hot samples from a process tube into a cask, where permissible exposure time is short and oral briefing of personnel who must perform subsequent operations is inadequate.

The moderator fluid will be injected into the PRTR calandrin through injectors located between the shroud tubes and at the bottom of the calandrin. It is important that the size and arrangement of the injectors be such that complete mixing of the moderator will occur and prevent hot sports from forming in the moderator. Such hot spots could lead to undesired changes in the moderating characteristics due to boiling within the moderator. Also of importance is the requirement that the injector should not produce excessive turbulence at the moderator surface thereby complicating moderator level control. To determine the extent of moderator mixing within the calandrin, experimental studies were made employing a full scale PRTR calandrin mockup.

The small amount of irradiation tenting experience on the plutonium-aluminum type elements planned for the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor (PRTR) has made such testing of great importance. The high temperature pressurized recirculating water 1706 KER facility is one possible place for conducting investigations of the irradiation behavior of this type fuel element. To obtain the maximum information from the in-reactor testing and to detect possible problems, out-of-reactor test both at room and anticipated operating temperatures must be made. Room temperature pressure drop measurements and high temperatures performance of two prototypical fuel element designs proposed for KER testing are reported in this document.

Several tests are being performed and others being planned to investigate the role of heat transfer in corrosion processes. These tests are measuring both corrosion rates of metals (Zr-2 and X-8001 aluminum) under heat transfer, and the temperature rise associated with the buildup of the corrosion product. A brief description of these tests is given in this report.