Abstract: A light weight, high strength ternary or higher-order cast beryllium-aluminum alloy, including approximately 60 to 70 weight % beryllium, one or both of from approximately 0.5 to 4 weight % silicon and from 0.2 to 4.25 weight % silver, with the balance aluminum. Beryllium strengthening elements selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, or cobalt may be present at from 0.1 to 2.0 weight % of the alloy to increase the alloy strength.

Abstract: A light weight, high strength ternary or higher-order cast beryllium-aluminum alloy, including approximately 60 to 70 weight % beryllium, one or both of from approximately 0.5 to 4 weight % silicon and from 0.2 to 4.25 weight % silver, with the balance aluminum. Beryllium strengthening elements selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, or cobalt may be present at from 0.1 to 0.75 weight % of the alloy to increase the alloy strength.

Abstract: A light weight, high strength quaternary or higher-order cast beryllium-aluminum alloy, including approximately 60 to 70 weight % beryllium, and from approximately 0.2 to 5 weight % germanium and from 0.2 to 4.25 weight % silver, with the balance aluminum. Beryllium strengthening elements selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, or cobalt may be present at from 0.1 to 5.0 weight % of the alloy to increase the alloy strength.

Abstract: An explosively forged elongated penetrator including a liner having a central section, an intermediate section and a peripheral section; the axial velocity of the sections being approximately equal; the axial thicknesses of the sections decreasing from the central to the peripheral section; the radial velocity increasing from the central to the peripheral section; and the line profile angle decreasing from the central to the peripheral section, to define an explosively driven, inwardly directed, centrally focused force for forging the penetrator from the liner substantially independently of the axial velocities.

Abstract: A cask for storing and transporting highly radioactive materials includes an inner shell and a number of layers of depleted uranium wire wound on the inner shell to create a radioactive shield against emanation of radioactivity from the material stored within the inner shell.

Abstract: A high strength and ductile depleted uranium alloy including two or three alloying elements, two of which are molybdenum and titanium, in which the total weight percent of all of the alloying elements makes up no more than 2% of the alloy weight, in which there is from 0.75 to 1.50 weight % molybdenum, and 0.30 to 0.70 weight % titanium.

Abstract: A method of producing a high density, low hygroscopic green salt from hydrated green salt includes heating a charge of hydrated green salt in a nonreactive atmosphere to a first temperature above the boiling point of water to drive off free water; heating the charge in a nonreactive atmosphere to a second temperature higher than the first temperature to drive off the water of crystallization present in the green salt; heating the charge in a nonreactive atmosphere to a third temperature higher than the second temperature to induce anhygroscopicity of the charge; and cooling the charge to approximately 400.degree. F. or less in a protective atmosphere to prevent atmospheric oxidation and hydrolysis.

Abstract: Techniques for producing fine metal powder are described, including producing droplets of molten metal to be formed into a powder, providing an environment including a substance specifically introduced for combining with the droplets, and submitting the droplets to the environment for combining the introduced substance with the droplet metal to form at least a partial coating on the powder including the introduced substance.

Abstract: A method of removing niobium from a uranium-niobium alloy includes dissolving the uranium-niobium alloy metal pieces in a first aqueous solution containing an acid selected from a group consisting of HCl and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and a fluoboric acid as a catalyst to provide a second aqueous solution which includes uranium (U.sup.+4), acid radical ions, the acids and insolubles including uranium oxides and niobium oxides; adding nitric acid to the insolubles to complete the oxidation of the niobium oxides to yield niobic acid and further solubilizing thr uranium oxide; and separating the niobic acid, nitric acid and solubilized uranium oxides.

Abstract: Pieces of metal are joined with silver material in a two-stage heating process. In one application, a brazed porous coating of metal particles on a metal substrate of a device is formed by interposing a silver material between the substrate and the particles, and placing the particles onto the substrate. The device is heated to a first temperature slightly below the melting point of the silver material, then briefly heated to a second temperature above 1100.degree. C. to rapidly melt the silver material to wet the particles and substrate and to generate alloying among the silver material, the particles, and the substrate. The device is allowed to cool to solidify the alloy and unite the particles and substrate to form a porous coating on the device. Also disclosed are a prosthetic device having a metal shaft for insertion into a bone canal, and a porous coating of metal particles brazed to the metal shaft by a silver material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing green salt (UF.sub.4) from uranium-bearing metal pieces. The uranium-bearing metal pieces are dissolved in a first aqueous solution containing hydrochloric acid and between 0.5% and 5% fluoboric acid to provide a second aqueous solution which includes uranium (U.sup.+4), chlorine ions (Cl.sup.-) and hydrochloric and fluoboric acids. Hydrofluoric acid is added to the second aqueous solution to precipitate green salt out of that solution and provide a third aqueous solution which contains hydrochloric acid. The green salt is then separated from the third aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing fine metal powder. The method includes the steps of forming a centrifugally maintained annulus of a liquified gas quench medium, forming molten metal drops within the eye of the annulus, urging the drops into the quench medium to solidify the drops, and boiling away the quench medium to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder. The apparatus includes a drum for containing a liquified gas quench medium, means for adding liquified gas to the inside of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to form an annulus of quench medium. The apparatus further includes means for forming molten metal to be made into powder, and means disposed along the longitudinal axis of the drum and within the eye of the annulus for creating molten metal drops. The molten metal drops are then urged into the quench medium to solidify them into a powder, and the quench medium is boiled away to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder.

Abstract: Pieces of metal are joined with silver material in a two-stage heating process. In one application, a brazed porous coating of metal particles on a metal substrate of a device is formed by interposing a silver material between the substrate and the particles, and placing the particles onto the substrate. The device is heated to a first temperature slightly below the melting point of the silver material, then briefly heated to a second temperature above 1100.degree. C. to rapidly melt the silver material to wet the particles and substrate and to generate alloying among the silver material, the particles, and the substrate. The device is allowed to cool to solidify the alloy and unite the particles and substrate to form a porous coating on the device. Also disclosed are a prosthetic device having a metal shaft for insertion into a bone canal, and a porous coating of metal particles brazed to the metal shaft by a silver material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing uranyl peroxide (UO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O) from uranium-bearing metal pieces. The uranium-bearing metal pieces are dissolved in a first aqueous solution containing nitric acid and between 0.5% and 5.0% fluoboric acid to provide a second aqueous solution which includes uranyl ions (UO.sub.2.sup.+2) and nitric and fluoboric acids. Hydrogen peroxide is added to the second aqueous solution to precipitate uranyl peroxide out of that solution and provide a third aqueous solution which contains nitric and fluoboric acids. The uranyl peroxide is then separated from the third aqueous solution.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing solidified metallic forms from levitated molten metal including a levitation conduit having an interior surface for accommodating the metal to be levitated, and a device for introducing the metal to the levitation conduit. Induction coils induce a moving magnetic field in the levitation conduit to levitate the metal upwardly through the conduit, and to maintain the outer surface of the levitated metal while molten out of pressured contact with the interior surface of the levitation conduit. The molten metal output is provided to a chamber in which a device re-forms the molten metal output and solidifies it.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing uranyl peroxide (UO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O) from uranium-bearing metal pieces. The uranium-bearing metal pieces are dissolved in a first aqueous solution containing nitric and fluoboric acids to provide a second aqueous solution which includes uranyl ions (UO.sub.2.sup.+2) and nitric and fluoboric acids. Hydrogen peroxide is added to the second aqueous solution to precipitate uranyl peroxide out of that solution and provide a third aqueous solution which contains nitric and fluoboric acids. The uranyl peroxide is then separated from the third aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing green salt (UF.sub.4) from uranium-bearing metal pieces. The uranium-bearing metal pieces are dissolved in a first aqueous solution containing hydrochloric and fluoboric acids to provide a second aqueous solution which includes uranium (U.sup.+4), chlorine ions (Cl.sup.-) and hydrochloric and fluoboric acids. Hydrofluoric acid is added to the second aqueous solution to precipitate green salt out of that solution and provide a third aqueous solution which contains hydrochloric acid. The green salt is then separated from the third aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method of dehydrating metal pieces including immersing the pieces in an oil heated to or above the boiling point of water for a time to boil off the water and then removing the pieces from the oil. An apparatus for the dehydration of metal pieces includes a container for carrying the pieces to be dehydrated, a receptacle for holding oil in which the chips are to be immersed, means for heating the oil to or about the boiling point of water, and means for introducing the container into the receptacle to immerse the pieces in the oil and removing the container and pieces from the oil.

Abstract: A rotary electrode apparatus for producing metal powders including a chamber for maintaining a controlled atmosphere. A first electrode is mounted in the chamber and a second consumable disc electrode is mounted in the chamber confronting the first electrode. An electric arc is struck between the first electrode and a circumferential portion of the disc electrode in order to melt the circumferential portion. The disc electrode is rotated at sufficient speed to enable melting of the circumferential portion of the disc and spinning off of melted portions of the disk.