"Recent surveys by the Health Instrument Section have disclosed the presence of many small radioactive spots on ground surfaces in the T and B plant areas. Investigation has shown that representative samples of the spots when mechanically separated invariably end in a single radioactive particle."

This report discusses preliminary results acquired from investigations made on the ultrasonic properties of uranium, such as sonic vibrations in the megacycle frequency range.

This report follows a study that deals with a portion of the ternary diagram previously analyzed, namely the boundary curves which separate the central area of two coexistent liquid phases from the two border stripe representing one-phase liquid systems.

Abstract: "The oxidation resistance of thin sheets of iron-28 w/o chromium-2.67 to 10.0 w/o alloys, nominally 0.004, 0.006, 0.008, 0.012, and 0.016 in. thick, was determined by exposure in static air for 100 hr at 2100 and 2300 F. A minimum of 3.67 and 9.37 w/o aluminum was necessary to prevent excessive oxidation of 0.004-in.-thick sheet material at 2100 and 2300 F, respectively. Correspondingly, specimens of lower aluminum content and greater thickness withstood the oxidation attack. Oxidation of iron-chromium-aluminum alloys appeared to be related to the diffusion of aluminum to surfaces of the sheet to form an adherent protective layer of Al2O3."

The object of this study was to determine the effects of several annealing treatments and aging treatments on the tensile test behavior of Zircaloy-3b.

Technical report. From Abstract : "The acidity of a solution of acid, HX, and salt, MX, is affected by both the concentration of X- and M+ owing to incomplete dissociation of the salt, MX. it was possible to increase the acidity of a solution of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol - tetrabutylammonium 2,6-di-tert-butylphenolate relative to a dilute solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide by increasing the tetrabutylammonium bromide content. This indicates that the dissociation constant of the hydroxide base is sufficiently large that extensive dissociation occurs in dilute solutions. The addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide is therefore recommended as a general method for increasing the acidity and improving the titration characteristics of extremely weak acids."

Summary of research progress meetings of October 2 and October 9, 1952: High speed high vacuum ion pump, High energy ion irradiation, Space charge accelerator for protons, Availability of the [ ] meson beam at the cyclatron, Effect of chemical structure on stopping powers for high energy protons.

Continued process improvements in the separation plants provide an incentive for economics in waste storage costs by utilizing existing facilities to their maximum capability consistent with the radiological hazards involved. The major improvements have reduced waste volumes resulting in increased fission product concentration and energy potential. Analyses have been made to determine the effect of this change on the integrity of the existing structures.

Abstract: X-ray energy level diagrams as given in the literature are tabulated for radium, thorium and uranium. A level scheme for protoactinium is derived from the published data. After a brief review of the use of X-ray data in studying outer electronic structure, it is pointed out that differences in the X-ray spectra should exist depending on whether the outer electrons are in f or d orbitals. The observed separation of the OI and OII levels in thorium and uranium indicated that the f levels lie lower than the d. This hypothesis also provides a reasonable explanation for the observed differences between the MIV and MV absorption edges and MIV and MV levels calculated from the emission spectra and the LIII edge.

The calculation of shielding the thickness for plutonium is complicated by the many different energies represented in the gamma radiation emitted during decay of the plutonium isotopes. Dose rate predictions are also frequently confused by gamma from varying content of fission product impurities in the plutonium, as well as other gamma radiation induced through alpha and neutron particle absorption within the source material or its environment. After assumptions are made for these many factors the radiation data for shielding determination is still frequently inadequate because of wide variations in dose rates resulting from self-absorption. The degree if self-shielding is in turn dependent on nature of the plutonium compound, degree of compactness, weight, and over-all geometrical distribution of the source material. By preparing a variety of plutonium samples representing combinations of these varying factors, actual dose rates and gamma spectra, as obtained from them, can then be extrapolated for application to specific situations.

The NPR design calls for carbon steel to be the major constituent in the reactor coolant piping system. The piping and its associated fittings will, in all likelihood, be exposed to atmospheric weather conditions during the period of reactor construction. This type of exposure causes rusting. From experience gained during the startup of KER Loop 1 it is expected that there will be initially high NPR coolant activity levels. The high activity during the startup of KER Loop 1 was partially caused by the activation of rust that was eroded from pipe walls. Prevention of rusting on the carbon steel prior to its introduction into the coolant system would reduce the initial activity levels.

A general program has been written to plot curves on the Oracle curve plotter. The supplement includes changes to slow down some of the loops and minimize the possibility of read-around errors and changes to handle special cases.