Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing an amorphous metal core 1 for use in a transformer. The uncut legs 7, 8 and 9 of the core 1 are covered with an adhesive impregnated substrate 10, the edges 11 of which are bent over to make contact with the core 1. A release sheet 12 and a plate 13 are placed over the adhesive impregnated substrate, the plate 13 is pressed against the core 1, and the adhesive is cured. The process is repeated with the edges on the opposite side of the core.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for measuring the burnup of nuclear fuel. A curve giving the calculated relationship between the fast neutron emission rate and the burnup of fuel is prepared. The fast neutron counting rate from a sample of nuclear fuel of known burnup is measured and the proportionality ratio between that measurement and the fast neutron emission given by the curve for the same burnup is determined. The fast neutron counting rate of nuclear fuel of unknown burnup is then measured and multiplied by the proportionality ratio to determine the fast neutron emission rate, from which the unknown burnup is then determined by means of the curve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of decontaminating the metal surfaces in the cooling system of a nuclear reactor by contacting the metal surfaces with an aqueous solution containing about 0.5 to about 3% of a ceric acid which can be tetrasulfato ceric acid, hexasulfamato ceric acid, hexaperchlorato ceric acid, or mixtures thereof, and about 1 to about 5% of an inorganic acid that forms a complex with the ceric acid.The cerium III in the aqueous solution can be oxidized to cerium IV to increase the life and effectiveness of the solution. After oxidation, the aqueous solution can be passed through a hydrogen form cation exchange column to remove metal ions. If the aqueous solution contains uranyl or plutonyl ions these can be recovered by extraction for use in making fuel.Also disclosed is a decontaminating solution of water containing about 0.

Abstract: Radioactive combustible waste can be processed with hot concentrated sulfuric acid and the resulting residue material immobilized in glass with retention of volatile radio-ruthenium, if present. In addition, the process features minimal material handling. The process combines a sulfuric acid digestion treatment of waste with a drying, desulfation, and glassification of the resulting acid residue into a non-dispersible solid of reduced volume. An optional ceramic product can be made without desulfation of the residue.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of decontaminating metal surfaces contaminated with a radioactive deposit by passing over the coating an aqueous solution of a water soluble condensation reaction product of (1) a hydrazine compound having the general formula ##STR1## where each R group is independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl to C.sub.4 and (2) a water soluble aliphatic polycarboxylic acid. The method includes the additional last steps of passing an aqueous oxidizing solution over the deposit followed by passing a decontamination solution over the deposit a second time. The solution is circulated through a cationic exchange column which can be preloaded with hydrazine ion. The decontamination solution can be decomposed by the addition of an oxidant to form nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within a solid oxide fuel cell generator, wherein the solid oxide fuel cell generator has a plurality of individual fuel cells in a refractory container, the fuel cells generating a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream. The partially spent fuel stream is divided into two streams, spent fuel stream I and spent fuel stream II. Spent fuel stream I is burned with the partially spent oxidant stream inside the refractory container to produce an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is divided into two streams, exhaust stream I and exhaust stream II, and exhaust stream I is vented. Exhaust stream II is mixed with spent fuel stream II to form a recycle stream. The recycle stream is mixed with the gaseous reformable fuel within the refractory container to form a fuel stream which is supplied to the fuel cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing the volume of a material containing addition polymerizable bonds by contacting the material with sufficient butyrolactone to dissolve the soluble organic material therein and form a slurry. About 0.1 to about 2% by weight, based on the slurry weight, of an addition polymerizable catalyst is added to polymerize and solidify the slurry. About 10 to about 50% by weight, based on total slurry weight, of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, such as styrene, can be added to aid in the polymerization process. The process is especially suited to filter elements containing radioactive contaminants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a printed circuit board by exposing in a circuit pattern the polymeric surface of a conductive substrate coated with a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyamide-imides, polyester-amide-imides, polysulfones, polyphenylene sulfides, and polyphenylene oxides, to an ion beam at an energy of about 50 KeV to about 2 MeV and a fluence of about 10.sup.15 to 10.sup.18 ions/cm.sup.2. The surface is then wet blasted and the portions of the polymeric surface that have been exposed to the ion beam are electrolessly plated with a metal such as nickel or copper. Also disclosed is a coated substrate comprising a metal or conductive surface and an imide polymeric coating on the surface which can be electrophoretically deposited, a portion of which has been exposed to an ion beam.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring the moisture content of a sample. The apparatus includes a first sealed chamber for accepting the sample and a first impulse furnace within the first chamber for dissociating water in the sample into the hydrogen and oxygen, a second sealed chamber in gaseous communication with the first chamber, a second impulse furnace within the second chamber for dissociating water and the hydrogen and the oxygen, and a hydrogen analyzer for determining the amount of hydrogen formed by the first and second impulse furnace. Also disclosed is a method of measuring the amount of water in the sample. The sample is heated in an enclosed chamber in the presence of a water dissociation catalyst, whereby water in the first chamber is dissociated into hydrogen and oxygen. Vapors are passed from the enclosed chamber to a second enclosed chamber which contains a water dissociation catalyst, whereby water in the vapors is dissociated into hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: An efficient and economical separation of the gadolinium isotopes Gd.sup.155, Gd.sup.156 and/or Gd.sup.157 from mixtures containing the same is effected by a liquid chromatographic column system using an ion exchange resin and an eluant solution. A portion of the eluant solution is used to saturate the columns and a feed solution containing the mixture of gadolinium isotopes is charged to the columns. Further eluant solution is passed through the saturated columns containing the feed solution to form a fraction of eluant solution rich in the desired gadolinium isotopes which is separated from the remainder of the eluant upon discharge from the columns.

Abstract: Ceramic articles having improved fracture toughness are prepared by ion bombardment of ceramic particles by gas ions to impregnate the particles, cold compacting the gas ion-containing ceramic particles into a form, and hot pressing the gas ion-containing ceramic particle form into a ceramic article whereby gas bubbles are formed in and substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout the ceramic article.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for removing residual polychlorinated biphenyls from transformers. A vaporized solvent which forms a low-boiling azeotrope with polychlorinated biphenyls is passed through the transformer. The vaporized azeotrope is removed from the transformer, condensed, and the PCB's in the azeotrope are removed and/or destroyed. The apparatus includes means for vaporizing the solvent which forms the low-boiling azeotrope with the PCB's, a pump means for passing the vaporized solvent through the transformer, a condensing means for condensing the vaporized azeotrope, and treatment means for destroying the polychlorinated biphenyls removed from the transformer in the azeotrope.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making silane. A silicon tetrahalide having the general formula SiX.sub.4 is reacted with a compound which can be alcohols to C.sub.4, alkanes to C.sub.4, alkenes to C.sub.4 alkenes to C.sub.4 or a mixture thereof, where X is independently selected from the halogens, to produce a product having the general formula SiR.sub.4, where each R is independently selected from alkoxy to C.sub.4, alkyl to C.sub.4, alkylene to C.sub.4 and alkenyl to C.sub.4. The SiR.sub.4 is then reacted with hydrogen to produce the silane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of coating a fibrous or filamentous organic polymeric substrate by forming a liquid which comprises an organic compound having a vapor pressure of less than about 400 mm at room temperature, applying the liquid to the substrate, evaporating any solvent which is present, and exposing the liquid to an ionized non-polymerizing inorganic gas. Also disclosed is a coated substrate comprising a fibrous or filamentous substrate made of an organic polymeric material and a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon coating on the substrate polymerized and chemically bonded to the polymeric material. A laminate is made by impregnating the treated substrate with an organic impregnating resin, heating the impregnated treated substrate to evaporate any solvent and to partially cure the organic impregnating resin, forming a prepreg, forming a stack of a plurality of prepregs, and heating the stack under pressure to fully cure the impregnating resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for oxidizing chromium in deposits in the cooling system of a nuclear reactor using a solution of ozone. The improvement consists of adding to the solution about 0.01 to about 0.5% of a water-soluble cerium IV compound, about 0.1 to about 0.5% of a water-soluble aromatic compound having at least one ketone group on an aromatic ring, or adding both. Also disclosed is the composition of water, ozone, the cerium IV compound and the aromatic compound. Also disclosed is a process for decontaminating the cooling system of nuclear reactors by adding a decontamination composition to the coolant, circulating the coolant between the cooling system and a cation exchange resin, removing the decontamination composition by passing it through an anion exchange resin, adjusting the temperature to 40.degree. to about 100.degree. C., adding the ozone oxidation composition, circulating the coolant through the cooling system, raising the temperature to at least about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising about 5 to about 95 phr of a polyepoxide or other resinous component, about 20 to about 90% of an aprotic solvent, about 5 to about 95 phr of a polyimide having sufficient amic acid functionality to be soluble in the solvent, and sufficient water to hydrolyze the polyimide. A laminate is made from the composition by heating it until the amic acid functionality is substantially eliminated, then impregnating a fibrous substrate with the composition, heating the impregnated substrate to evaporate the solvent and B-stage the composition and form a prepreg, forming a stack of the prepregs, and heating and pressing the stack of prepregs to cure the composition. A wire enamel can also be made from the composition.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating uranium-containing particulate matter from the off-gas stream of a calciner, without condensation of ammonium fluoride from the gas stream along with the particulate matter, wherein the off-gas is passed through a filter while maintained at a temperature in excess of 340.degree. C. Preferably, the off-gas stream is forced through the filter by an aspirator, located downstream of the filter, and the filter comprises a plurality of filter units in side-by-side relationship, each of said filter units being purged by a nitrogen gas stream while the off-gas stream continues to flow through the remainder of the filter units for a continuous filtering operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a laminate by electrophoretically coating a flat mat made from a material selected from graphite, carbon, and mixtures thereof with an electrophoretable polymer in a non-aqueous system. The polymer is cured and the mat is impregnated with a thermosetable impregnating resin. The impregnating resin is B-staged to form a prepreg and several prepregs are stacked and cured under heat and pressure to form the laminate. Also disclosed is a laminate made by this method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of maintaining the power of the output of a xenon chloride laser. The gases in the lasing chamber are circulated between the lasing chamber and a reforming chamber. In the reforming chamber, the gases are contacted with at least one metal chloride which is chemically less stable than hydrogen chloride. The temperature of the metal chloride in the reforming chamber is maintained between the condensation temperature of hydrogen chloride and the dissociation temperature of the metal chloride used. Also disclosed is apparatus for performing this method.

Abstract: A hydride blister-resistant nuclear fuel rod cladding has a tubular cladding formed from a zirconium-based alloy which has a thin nickel base film, of a thickness of about 0.01 to 5 microns distributed over between 1-40 percent of the area of the internal surface of the tubular cladding. The dispersed nickel base film provides multiple sites for hydride transport from the interior of the nuclear fuel rod and prevents localized hydride transport and resulting hydride blistering.