Pacific Northwest Laboratory monthly activities report, October 1967 Page: 16 of 44
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-20- BN
continued. Metallographic examination of 5 high power density
fuel elements which operated near a maximum fuel temperature
of 5000C is essentially complete. Optical photomicrographs
and pictures taken with the electron microscope are being eval-
uated. It appears from a cursory look at the electron photo-
micrographs that all of the five fuel specimens have consider-
able porosity.
Aluminum Alloys
(R.R. Studer, Primary Fabrication Unit)
Two billets of X8001 aluminum alloy were cast to prove the
operation of the direct chill casting machine. The direct chill
casting machine is one in which molten aluminum is poured into
a short chill mold in which a thin sheet of aluminum is with-
drawn into a water spray where the billet solidifies. The
result is a continuously cast aluminum ingot with a very fine
dispersion of the second phase material. Previously, consider-
able difficulties were encountered in the operation of the cast-
ing machine. After modification to the mold and hydraulic
drive mechanism, satisfactory operation was obtained. Metallo-
graphic examination of the cast ingots revealed many oxide
inclusions. A temporary flux was made of equal parts by weight
of NaCl and KCl pending receipt of a commercial aluminum clean-
ing flux. Fluxing the molten aluminum yielded clean castings,
but some heats showed a visible evolution of hydrogen gas.
A system for degassing with argon has been installed at the
melt furnace and is ready for use on the 21 alloys to be cast.
There has been a problem with the aluminum freezing in the
transfer ladle thus resulting in short castings. Increasing
the molten metal temperature lessens the effectiveness of
degassing treatments. Hopefully, this problem has been allev-
iated by the construction of an electrically heated receiver
which will maintain the alloys at their proper casting tempera-
ture during degassing, fluxing, and casting.
One of the X8001 cast billets was extruded into tubing. The
product appears to have a satisfactory microstructure with no
trace of the as cast eutectic network. Casting of the alloy
billets for processing into tubing and sheet bar will proceed
immediately.
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Albaugh, F. W. Pacific Northwest Laboratory monthly activities report, October 1967, report, November 1, 1967; Richland, Washington. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1312798/m1/16/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.