Abstract: "The purpose of this investigation is to determine the extent to which zirconium and zirconium alloys exhibit delayed failure (static fatigue) as caused by a combination of absorbed hydrogen and applied stress. Both notched and unnotched specimens of unalloyed zirconium and Zircaloy-2 have been hydrogenated to 200 ppm by means of a modified Sieverts apparatus; specimens were evaluated at room temperature. Thus far, no time-dependent fracture has been observed which can be attributed to the delayed failure phenomenon; it appears that these materials are relatively insensitive to static fatigue. The effects of grain size, temperature, cold deformation, and superheated water and steam corrosion on susceptibility to delayed failure are being determined."

Abstract: "The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of color centers in additively colored KCl crystals is measured to observe the effects of optical bleaching at room temperature. Earlier measurements on the F-center are confirmed and the susceptibility is measured at 78 and 300 deg K over five decades of power, including the very low power region. The width and the saturation properties of the individual multiplets are studied in detail and the technique of making EPR measurements on inhomogeneously broadened lines is discussed. A calculation is presented which shows that a slight departure from a Lorentzian multiplet shape can account for the saturation data. The bleached crystals show a resonance which has a width of 35 gauss and a different rate of saturation than the F- center. This resonance is associated with the B-band which appears in the optical absorption."