This is the monthly report for the Hanford Laboratories Operation, April, 1959. Metallurgy, reactor fuels, chemistry, dosimetry, separation process, reactor technology, financial activities, visits, biology operation, physics and instrumentation research, and employee relations are discussed.

The hot press process has been altered so as to eliminate the slight wrinkling near the ID base. This was done by incorporating a three minute time delay in the pressing cycle. The pressing time was decreased to five minutes to restrict formation of the brittle intermetallic compound, Ni{sub 2}Al{sub 3}.

In anticipation of the availability of the phase-shifts and mixing parameters, which are being calculated by Bransden, Smith, and Tate for the elastic scattering of nucleons by deuterons (with tensor forces), the von Neuman density matrix and Racah algebra were used to derive expressions for the average value of the spin operator in the emerging beam of nucleons after single and double scattering from unpolarized deuterons. The values of the geometrical factors which appear in these expressions were calculated on an IBM-650 digital computing machine and are given in the form of tables. The range of the angular momentum quantum numbers was chosen to cover nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-deuteron prolems up to J, the total angular momentum, equal to five. (auth)

Revision of an Informal Memorandum Godiva II-Its Availability and Suitability for Radiation Effects Tests.'' W. J. Buckalew, comp. The Los Alamos Scientific Lab., recognizing the unique nuclear environment offered by Godiva II radiation bursts, has agreed to make thls facility available without charge to DOD contractors on a general schedule of 2 days each month for the performance of qualified radiation effects tests. The procedure for reserving time and space at the facility is outlined. A brief description of the facility is given. (W.D.M.)

>The importance of prevention of fires and explosions involving uranium, zircomum, plutonium, and thorium, which are of particular interest to the nuclear energy program, made imperative the study of their ignition behavior and oxidation kinetics. Methods of measurements of ignition characteristics of uranium and zirconium were developed and used to determine the effects of variables, such as surface preparation, metallurgical history, specific area (sample size), additives to the metal, and oxygen content and presence of moisture in the oxidizing gas. The study of ignition characteristics was supported by study of the effects of similar variables on the kinetics of oxidation of uranium and zirconium and binary alloys of each. The oxidation of uranium always proceeded in two linear stages over the temperature range of 125 to 295 deg C at pressures of 20, 50, 200, and 800 mm of oxygen. The temperature dependences of both stages indicate an activation energy dependent on pressure. The presence of ten additive elements in uranium metal caused only very small effects on the oxidation. The oxidation of zirconium was independent of pressure and proceeded according to a cubic rate law over the temperature range from 400 to 900 deg C, with an activation energy …

Graphite specimens fully clad with Type 310 stainless, Type 446 stainless, or Inconel were irradiated in a 1000-psi CO/sub 2/ environment for a period of 4 weeks at approximately 1300 F followed by 1 week at 1500 F. The fast-neutron-plus-gmma dose rate was estimated at 8 x 10/sup 7/ rads per hr. The gas environment was sampled and replenished eight times during the experiment. After 60 hr at about 1350 F, the CO content had in creased from a negligible value to 3.6 vol. %. It then decreased steadily to a value of 0.4 vol. % at the end of 4 weeks. When the temperature was raised to 1500 F, the CO content increased to 1.9 vol, % in 100 hr and then decreased to 0.6 vol. %. The O content remained nearly constant throughout the experiment. Postirradiation examination and metallography revealed very little effect of the exposure on the cladding materials at the gas and graphite interfaces. (auth)

None

ABS> Fuel reprocessing methods are being investigated for molten salt nuclear reactors which use LiF--BeF/sub 2/ salt as a solvent for UF/sub 4/ and ThF/sub 4/. A liquid HF dissolution procedure coupled with fluorination has been developed for recovery of the uranium and LiF- BeF/sub 2/ solvent salt which is highly enriched in Li/sup 7/. The recovered salt is decontaminated in the process from the major reactor poisons; namely, rare earths and neptunium. A brief investigation of alternate methods, including oxide precipitation, partial freezing, and metal reduction, indicated that such methods may give some separation of the solvent salt from reactor poisons, but they do not appear to be sufficiently quantitative for a simple processing operation. Solubilities of LiF and BeF/sub 2/ in aqueous 70t0 100% HF are presented. The BeF/sub 2/ solubility is appreciably increased in the presence of water and large amounts of LiF. Salt solubilities of 150 g/liter are attainable. Tracer experiments indicate that rare earth solubilities, relative to LiF-- BeF/sub 2/ solvent salt solubility, increase from about 10/sup -4/ mole% in 98% HF to 0.003 mole% in 80% HF. Fluorination of uranium from LiF--BeF/sub 2/ salt was demonstrated. This appears feasible also for the recovery of …

Previous discuesions of a computing method for solving two-dimensional hydrodynamic problems are amplified and extended. Results of computations are presented for problems involving shock diffraction and refraction, surface instibilities, and viscous flow. (auth)

BS>The theories of the origin of the aurora are discussed from two points of view. The two basic structural types of auroras are described. A discussion is included of radio whistlers. (W.L.H.)

Tables of data calculated on an IBM 610 automatic computer are given to convert the measured pressure differences in the Van Slyke gas analysis apparatus into micromolar concentration of gas in solution for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in water. Measured solubility coefficients for carbon dioxide in various aqueous solutions of formic acid are given together with the conversion factors for use with the Van Slyke analysis apparatus. (auth)

BS>The ten transuranium elements discovered since 1940 are discussed in chronological order. The discoverer, the history, and methods used are given for each element. Future developments in the discovery and preparation of transuranic elements are discussed. (A.C.)

A method for the safe handling of the SNAP-III thermoelectric generators is presented. It provides information regarding shipping regulations, general handling instructions for packing, unpacking, and demonstrating the device, and procedures to follow in an event of an accident. Possible hszards involved in handling the device, and the probability of any of these hazardous incidents occurring while it is being demonstrated, are summarized. Containment of the radioisotope fuel used in the SNAP-III device was assured under rigorous conditions, including short time external thermal temperature excursions to 1600 deg C, when in the shipping container. The probability of the device encountering such temperatures are remote. (auth)

A steady-state hot wire method for measuring the thermal conductivity of light gases in the temperature range 1200 to 2100 K is described. In contrast to other methods, free convection currents and large temperature gradients occur; convection effects are shown to be negligible, and an experimental procedure for eliminating the large gradient effects is described. The thermal conductivity of helium is found to follow the equation deg F. Cores o x 10/sup 6/ = 991 + 0.678(T - 1200) cal/sec cm deg over the temperature range covered. That for hydrogen is deg F. Cores o x 10/sup 6/= 1434 + 1.257(T -12OO) cal/sec cm deg. (auth)

Free energy functions for gaseous nmonoxides were calculated from presently available spectroscopic results. However, the electronic contributions to the free energy functions were estimated. A simple ionic model was assumed since the molecular electronic states for most of these oxides are not known. In some instances where experimental data are insufficient to calculate the interatomic distances and the equilibrium frequencies of vibrations, they were estimated. The results of these calculations are tabulated for every 500 interval from room temperature to 3000 K. (auth)

The atomic-beam magnetic-resonance flop-in technique using radioactive detection was employed to measure the nuclear spins doff B/sup 206/ , Ti/sup 200/ , Tl/sup 201/ Tl/sup 202, In/sup 09. ln/sup 110m/ and In/sup 111/. In addition the magnetic-dipole and constatns of In/sup 109/, In/sup 110m/, ined. the signs of the In/sup 110m/ con-, stants were not determined. Results, theory, procedure, and data reduction are given. (auth)

The preferred orientation of a relatively small piece of high-purity uranium rod, rolled to an 85% reduction at 300 deg C, has been determined in the as-rolled and in the recrystallized conditions. The 12 different charts obtained indicated that the as-rolled texture could be described as a duplex (041) and (352) with the (041) being the major component and with considerable spread about each component. The recrystallized rod showed approximate (041) and (392) components with considerable spread. These texture components for both the as- rolled and the recrystallized rods are not too different from those previously reported for reactor-grade uranium rod. However, it was noted that the texture appeared to be quite sharp for the reduction used, and the maximum intensity on an inverse pole figure was considerably displaced from the periphery of an (001) standard projection for both the rolled and recrystallized rods. (auth)

Papers contained in this report supplement a book of papers published in 1958, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Hew York. Eighteen papers are presented on designs eqaipment, and operation of hot laboratories. Minutes of a round table panel discussion presented at the conference are included. (W.D.M.)

The Cd/sup 115m/ and Cd/sup 115/ isomers produced in 12- to 340Mev proton bombardments of U/sup 238/ were isolated by radiochemical methods. The cumulative yield ratios of Cd/sup 115/Cd/sup 115m/Cd/ were determined. In the 45- Mev heliumion flssion of uranium, an estimation of the independentyield ratio of Pm/sup 148/ (5.3-day) to Pm/sup 148/ (43-day) was made. In the deuteron fission of uranium at about 20 Mevs an estimate of the independent-yield ratio of Nb/sup 95m/ to the total niobium of mass 95 was made. A literature survey on experimental isomer ratios from fission was made. The yield ratio of Sc/sup 44// Sc/sup 44/ was measured in Sc/sup 45/ ( alpha , alpha n)Sc/sup 44/ reactions with helium ions of energies between 20 and 43 Mev and at 320 Mev. The Sc/sup 44m/Sc/ sup 44/ ratio was measured in K/sup 41/( alpha ,n)Sc/sup 44/ reactions at 10 and 43 Mev. The compound-nucleus model was used to calcalate the Sc/sup 44m/Sc/sup 44/ ratios produced by the reactions /sup n44/ and Sc/sup 45/(p,pn)Sc/sup 44/ at energies 0.4 Mev above threshold. Agreement between the experimental and calculated Sc/sup 44m/Sc/sup 44/ ratio was obtained for the K/sup 41/(l0-Mev alpha ,n)Sc/sup 44/ reaction. A classical knock-on …

OR XLS 1-5 is a program for structure factor calculation and for the least squares refinement of crystal structures using x-ray or neutron diffraction data. The code is divided into five segments, and the purpose of each is briefly described. (W.D.M.)

A group of uranium specimens were irradiated under conditions in which some of the specimens were irradiated continuously while others were cycled in and out of a reactor. Although most of the specimens were irradiated under conditions in which they were entirely in the alpha phase, some were irradiated so that their centers were above alpha-phase temperatures. Both highly textured material (300 deg C rolled) and nomimally randomly oriented material (300 deg C rolled and beta-quenched) were studied. It appeared that irradiation cycling of both types of material may result in greater elongation than would be anticipated on the assumption that the effects of irradiation and thermal cycling acting alone were additive. The material rolled at 300 deg C showed no external effects due to central irradiation temperatures being above those limiting the alpha phase. However, betaquenched material, which was irradiated so that central temperatures were above those required for stability of the alpha phase, developed severe distortions which were greater under cycling conditions. It was also noted that 300 deg C rolled uranium begins to elongate under irradiation at burnups as low as 0.0002 a/o (2 Mwd/t). (auth)

Aqueous entrainment in the extract from the first refinery pamper- decanter was found to range from 0.7 to 2.4 volume per cent. About an order of magnitude better decontamination for sodium and similar impurities is obtained by centrifuging the organic extract. The amount of water sorbed by green salt under equilibrium conditions is a linear function of the uranyl fluoride content. Uranium tetrafluoride could not be dried in air above 400 deg C without serious decomposition. Experiments with isotliermal'' laboratory-scale bombs indicate that preignition charge temperatures above about uranium. An upper limit of about 400 deg C on this heating was necessary to minimize premature ignition. The thermoconductivity of a laboratory bomb charge was increased by replacing pant of the normal granulated mangnesium with magnesium strips or larger chips. The lowest ignition temperature of heated, stirred magnesium-green salt mixtures was found to be 393 deg C. This indicates that preheated bomb charges could probably be handled safely at temperatures below about 300 deg C. A high-voltage spark discharge ignited a cold mixture of UF/sub 4/ in magnesium. The replacement of normal bomb lids and MFL charge caps with either porous graphite or ffrebrick produced uranium with lower hydrogen than normal …

The C/sup 14/C/aup 12/ isotope effect has been measured for the acid- catalyzed thermal decarbonylation of benzolyformic acid. The decarbonylation which involves the breaking of a C-O bond in the rate-determining step, was found to have a value for k/sub C/sup 14/k/sub C/sup 12/ of 0.977. (auth)

The design requirements of a containnment building for a sodium-cooled reactor have been investigated from the point of view of a hypothetical sodium - air reaction. In particular, this study was directed toward the containment building of the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant. The hypothetical accident assumes a major leak in the sodium system with a concurrent or earlier failure of the ventilation and cooling systems which allows air to enter the areas around the sodium system which are normally maintained in an atmosphere inert insofar as sodium burning is concerned. The resulting sodium pool, equivalent in burning surface to the fraction of the cross sectional area of the containment buildings which is flooded, burns at a rate depending upon oxygen concentration and gas temperature in the containment building. A series of experiments were carried out to determine this burning rate and its mechanism. The resulting gas temperature and pressure due to the sodium-air incident were determined by solving a system of equations based on time dependent heat balances on the containment building and its contents. The assumed incident gives a maximum gas pressure of about 26 psig and a corresponding gas temperature of 1115 F. This pressure is well …