Technical report of an investigation to determine a suitable material for sintering and casting of braze rings. Braze rings afford an excellent means of preplacing braze alloy on tube to head joints of radiators, heat exchangers, and similar applications. A cast ring is especially desirable because of its increased strength. Previous efforts at casting had used welding grade carbon blocks with the desired ring cavities machined into their surface. Conclusion: Stackpole grade 331 electro-graphite provided the best results of the materials investigation. It is hard and more readily machinable with conventional tools than other grades. Carbon, in general, proved to be more satisfactory especially due its ease and speed of fabrication.

This technical report provides a design criteria for a technical support facility for the Lithium Cooled Reactor Experiment (LCRE) and SNAP-50-DR-1 Test Facilities. The support facility is adjacent to the LCRE Test Facility and is located completely within the existing Building 629 structure at the former ANP area of the National Reactor Testing Station (NRTS) near Idaho Falls, Idaho. The information and specifications presented establish the basis for the design of laboratories, shops and engineering areas required to support the installation, operation, maintenance and disassembly of the LCRE and SNAP-50 tests. The construction and modification required to adapt the building to reactor test support operations are described in detail in the following report.