This report presents the results of work performed from October 1, 1979 through December 31, 1979. Work covered in this report includes the activities associated with the status of the simulated reactor helium supply system, testing equipment and gas chemistry analysis instrumentation and equipment. The progress in the screening test program is described. This includes: screening creep results, weight gain and post-exposure mechanical properties for materials thermally exposed at 750/sup 0/ and 850/sup 0/C (1382/sup 0/ and 1562/sup 0/F). In addition, the status of the data management system is described.

Zinc electrowinning data, obtained with hydrogen depolarized anodes operating in a plant feed electrolyte at 55/sup 0/C, are presented in this quarterly report for investigations involving the following: performance of an anode containing a low platinum loading, i.e. 0.09 mg/cm/sup 2/ instead of the typical 0.33 mg/cm/sup 2/, and an anode catalyzed with palladium instead of platinum; establishment of a feed and bleed system to maintain a constant electrolyte composition; exploratory experiments on the effect of the rate and mode of electrolyte flow on the quality of the zinc plate at high current densities; performance of the anode with feeds of varying degrees of purification pre-treatment, and containing either 50 or 150 g/l Zn/sup + +/; the effect upon cell voltage of decreasing the hydrogen flowrate to the anode by dilution of the feed gas with nitrogen; the effect upon cell voltage of increasing the back pressure of the hydrogen gas fed to the anode; the effect upon energy consumption and current efficiency of varying the current density and the Zn/sup + +/ concentration; trace elemental analysis of a cathodic zinc plate of commercial-size thickness, as produced using the catalytic H/sub 2/ anode; further comparison of the effects of feed …

Simulated radioactive waste solidification by a lower temperature ceramic (cement) process is being investigated. The monazite component (simulated by NdPO/sub 4/) of supercalcine-ceramic has been solidified in cement and found to generate a solid form with low leachability. Several types of commercial cements and modifications thereof were used. No detectable release of Nd or P was found through characterizing the products of accelerated hydrothermal leaching at 473/sup 0/K (200/sup 0/C) and 30.4 MPa (300 bars) pressure.

This report details activities in the Quality Control Program at Mound Laboratory during the reporting period of January through March 1980.

The sources of excess /sup 107/Ag observed in iron meteorites by Kaiser, Kelly, and Wasserburg (1980) are examined, with emphasis on the reactions of cosmic-ray particles with palladium. The cross sections for the production of the silver isotopes from palladium by energetic cosmic-ray particles are evaluated or estimated and used to calculate spallogenic production rates relative to that of /sup 53/Mn from iron. The upper limit for the production rate of excess /sup 107/Ag by galactic-cosmic-ray particles is 400 atoms/min/kg(Pd) which, over an exposure age of 10/sup 9/ years, would make only 1% of the observed excesses of /sup 107/Ag. Neutron-capture reactions with Pd isotopes produce mainly /sup 109/Ag. Binary fission of a siderophilic superheavy element would be expected to yield more /sup 109/Ag than /sup 107/Ag. An intense proton irradiation in the early solar system probably would produce a lower ratio of (/sup 107/Pd//sup 108/Pd) to (/sup 26/Al//sup 27/Al) than observed in meteorites. Therefore the presence of excess /sup 107/Ag in iron meteorites with large Pd/Ag ratios very likely is due to the incorporation of 6.5 x 10/sup 6/-year /sup 107/Pd of nucleosynthetic origin in these meteorites.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Superconducting magnets for fusion energy reactors require massive monolithic stainless steel weldments which must operate at extremely low temperatures under stresses approaching 100 ksi (700 MPa). A three-year study was conducted to determine the feasibility of producing heavy-section welds having usable levels of strength and toughness at 4.2/sup 0/K for fabrication of these structures in Type 304LN plate. Seven welding processes were evaluated. Test weldments in full-thickness plate were made under severe restraint to simulate that of actual structures. Type 316L filler metal was used for most welds. Welds deposited under some conditions and which solidify as primary austenite have exhibited intergranular embrittlement at 4.2/sup 0/K. This is believed to be associated with grain boundary metal carbides or carbonitrides precipitated during reheating of already deposited beads by subsequent passes. Weld deposits which solidify as primary delta ferrite appear immune. Through use of fully austenitic filler metals of low nitrogen content under controlled shielded metal arc welding conditions, and through use of filler metals solidifying as primary delta ferrite where only minimum residuals remain to room temperature, welds of Type 316L composition have been made with 4.2K yield strength matching that of Type 304LN plate and acceptable levels of soundness, ductility …