Abstract: A three stage fluidized bed process for converting uranium hexafluoride (UF.sub.6) to a ceramic-grade uranium dioxide (UO.sub.2) powder by first, reacting hydrogen and steam with UF.sub.6 in a first fluidized bed in a temperature range of from about 475.degree. to 600.degree. C to form solid intermediate products UO.sub.2 F.sub.2 and U.sub.3 O.sub.8 ; second, reacting hydrogen and steam with the intermediate products in a second fluidized bed at a temperature ranging from about 575.degree. to about 675.degree. C to produce a second group of intermediate products including UO.sub.2 F.sub.2, U.sub.3 O.sub.8, and UO.sub.2 ; and, third, reacting hydrogen and steam with the second group of intermediate products in a third fluidized bed at a temperature of 575.degree. to 675.degree. C to produce ceramic grade UO.sub.2 powder having low residual content of fluorides and other foreign materials.

Abstract: A method is described for forming contacts which find use in vacuum interrupters. The method comprises making melt of a first metal having a high electrical conductivity and adding to the melt a second metal having a melting point in excess of the first metal and solubility in the first metal of less than 1 percent at the temperature to which the first metal is heated, intermixing the components to a uniform consistency casting the components to the desired configuration and thereafter cooling to room temperature.

Abstract: A nuclear-fuel assembly has an end plug and is sealed except for a small diameter axial bore in the plug. A welding electrode of the same material as the plug has an end ground to a point. The tapered end is then inserted into the bore. Before the bore is sealed the assembly is filled with an inert-gas at high pressure. An electric welding current is then directed through the electrode and the plug to seal the bore.

Abstract: A method of producing a silicon nitride article by powder techniques, wherein silicon nitride powder is used as a starting material. The silicon nitride powder, mixed with a densification aid, is heated rapidly to the sintering/densification temperature (1500.degree. to 1750.degree. C) in the absence of pressure, held there a short, closely controlled time (5 to 30 minutes) and thereafter rapidly cooled. This provides a strong product with controlled dimensional tolerances.

Abstract: A process for converting uranium hexafluoride (UF.sub.6) to uranium dioxide (UO.sub.2) of a relatively large particle size in a fluidized bed reactor by mixing uranium hexafluoride with a mixture of steam and hydrogen and by preliminary reacting in an ejector gaseous uranium hexafluoride with steam and hydrogen to form a mixture of uranium and oxide and uranium oxyfluoride seed particles of varying sizes, separating the larger particles from the smaller particles in a cyclone separator, recycling the smaller seed particles through the ejector to increase their size, and introducing the larger seed particles from the cyclone separator into a fluidized bed reactor where the seed particles serve as nuclei on which coarser particles of uranium dioxide are formed.

Abstract: An alloy and process are described for obtaining improved magnetic characteristics in iron-cobalt alloys. The iron-cobalt alloys described are characterized by a cube-on-face texture, primary recrystallized and normal grain growth microstructure. Processes are described which include both a single stage cold working and a multiple stage cold working in order to obtain the desired texture in the finished alloy.

Abstract: Waste water containing large amounts of fluorides and ammonia and trace amounts of uranium, as is produced during the hydrolysis and ammonium hydroxide treatment of uranium hexafluoride (UF.sub.6) to produce ammonium diuranate (ADU) therefrom, is rendered suitable for cyclic reuse by initially treating the waste water with sufficient lime to precipitate substantially all of the fluorides present in the waste water to a relatively insoluble CaF.sub.2 precipitate, the treated solution is subjected to distillation to drive off ammonia for reuse in the ADU precipitation, the CaF.sub.2 precipitate is separated from the aqueous distilland leaving water with dissolved calcium, the distilland is treated by a cationic ion-exchange material to remove substantially all of the calcium and other cationic metal impurities and the resulting water containing small amounts of uranium, fluoride and ammonia is recycled to react with UF.sub.

Abstract: A low alloy rotor steel is described which is substantially free of temper embrittlement within given constraints. In addition to describing the chemical composition there is included equations for predetermining the fracture appearance transition temperature of the unembrittled steel which equation permits the manufacturer to balance the alloying components within the ranges given in order to obtain a predetermined fracture appearance transition temperature, and by further balancing of the alloying components, the change in the fracture appearance transition temperature can be controlled to within .+-. 40F.degree.. Drawings are included which graphically depict the area for control of the critical relationship between the molybdenum and the chromium.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ferritic alloy having a high creep resistance particularly suitable for use in the castings, the welding material, and welds of the casings and conductors of apparatus operating at high temperatures, typically steam turbines operating at about 1050.degree.F. This alloy has between about 1% and 2% copper and small but effective quantities of carbon, vanadium, and molybdenum and is low in manganese, silicon, and nickel although nickel is sometimes needed for increased tensile strength and toughness. In modifications or variations of this alloy small but effective quantities of cobalt and tungsten improve creep resistance while chromium is minimized.

Abstract: There is disclosed a magnetic core and the method of making the same. The core is formed of a plurality of microlaminations. Since each discrete microlamination is of elongated rectangular shape, soft, ductile and magnetically insulated, the cores exhibit improved permeability, lower core loss, lower exciting volt amps and exhibit improved high frequency characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for joining a solid copper member to a stranded copper member employing phosphorus-silver-copper alloys as the joining material and in which resistance heating is utilized in forming the joint. More specifically, the invention employs a copper tungsten alloy for the tip portion of an electrode which is in contact with the stranded copper member to enable good joints to be made.

Abstract: A process is described in which an iron-silicon alloy capable of being heat treated to produce a cube-on-edge (110) [001] grain orientation is treated to produce improved core losses when the material is under high operating inductions. The process steps include cleaning the surface of the steel of finish gauge thickness, applying a coating to the surface of the steel which is non-reactive with the surface and promotes decarburization, heating to a temperature sufficiently high to effect secondary recrystallization texture development and decarburization and cooling to room temperature. Data are included which demonstrate the improved core losses exhibited by these materials so treated when tested at high operating inductions.