This is the monthly report for the Hanford Laboratories Operation March 1963. Reactor fuels, chemistry, dosimetry, separation processes, reactor technology, financial activities, biology operation, physics and instrumentation research, operations research and synthesis, programming, and radiation protection operation are discussed.

A generalized correlation for the liquid fraction in twophase flow is presented which is proposed for use with all iluids, including liquid metals. The correlation is based on isothermal, two-phase, two-component liquid fraction data for liquid Hg--N/sub 2/ and water-air. Liquid fraction is shown to be a function of the Martinelli flow modulus and liquid/gas density and viscosity ratios. Good correspondence is indicated between the liquid fraction predicted by this correlation and the Martinelli-Nelson correlation for steam, experimental data for steam, and experimental data for Santowax R. Prediction of liquid fraction by this method is shown for Na, K, Rb, and Hg. Application of the method to boiling Hg, for a range of temperatures and exit qualities, is demonstrated for SNAP systems. (auth)

Seals capable of long life at 1500 c- C in cesium and vacuum environments are developed. Improved methods of sealing both metallized and unmetallized ceramic members to refractory metals are developed. Associated work on ceramics, refractory metal alloys, and ceramic-metal composites is made. (auth)

Progress is reported on BORAX-V, liquid-metal-cooled reactors including EBR-I and -II and FARET, general reactor technology, plutonium recycle program, advanced systems research and development, direct conversion studies, and fast and thermal reactor safety studies. (M.C.G.)

In studies of the effect of alloying elements on the rate of dissolution of Al in mercury-catalyzed nitric acid, it was observed that Co, Ni, and Si present at concentrations of 1 to 2% have significant passivating effects. Fe was slightly catalytic. Passivation due to Si was partly overcome by contacting the passive alloy with active, high-purity Al. Increased catalyst concentration improved the rates when Ni and Si were present. Neither approach was effective when Cu was the passivating element. For application to nuclear fuel reprocessing, it is suggested that for minimum reprocessing costs the potentially passive Al alloys not be used in fuel elements or that, failing this, electrochemical activation techniques be applied at the processing plant. (auth)

None

The conversion of strontium-90 to strontium titanate heat source pellets is described. Encapsulation of the fuel in Hastelloy C containers and necessary leak testing, decontamination and calorimetry procedures are covered. Loading of the SNAP 7B thermoelectric generator was accomplished. (auth)