Minor changes in materials and methods resulted in increased yields in the production of fuel elements for the Bulk Shielding Facility. Attempts to bond uranium to a mercury-- silver alloy resulted in bonds of insufficient strength. Thorium alloys containing 2 to 4% Nb. Cr. Mn, Ti, Zr, Be. Al, and Si were prepared. The alloys containing Be, Al. or Si were hard, brittle, and not cold-workable. The alloys containing the other elements were coldworkable in the as-cast condition. Impact testing of pure thorium, using standard V-notch specimens, revealed a transition from brittle to tough behavior at 120 to 200 deg C. The determination of UAL/sub 4/: UAL/sub 3/ ratios, lattice parameters, and microstructures for the Al--Si--U system is reported. It was found that for a 20% uranium alloy, only 0.8% Si is necessary to completely suppress the formation of UAL/sub 4/. In general, ferritic iron--chromium alloys appeared more resistant to static corrosion by 1000 deg C lithium and lead than did austenitic alloys. Compatability tests with combinations of Mo, UO/sub 2/ BeO, Nb, and stainless steels 309 and 316 are discussed. True stress-natural strain-time diagrams for copper at room temperature are presented. (See also ORNL-2839.) (C.J.G.)

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