Authorization for use of an alternate method of processing turnings: 234-5 Building, briquetting of plutonium turnings

Plutonium turnings formed in the machining operation are processed by recycling them to the reduction operation. The turnings are here combined in the radiation charge to form a button with the plutonium from the reduction of the fluoride. Occasionally an inventory of turning will accumulate, especially when a number of machined pieces are recycled to be recast. Since the amount of turnings to plutonium in plutonium fluoride considered safe for reduction is a maximum ratio of 1.35, a high turnings inventory can only be expended at a limited rate. Briquetting offers a convenient way of depleting the turnings inventory in a rapid manner. A total of twenty-four briquettes were pressed. Eight castings were made by casting three briquettes into a form suitable for further processing. Six of the eight castings were accepted at final inspection. One was too small to machine due to an interrupted heating cycle and the other was recast after two coating failures with subsequent stripping caused the piece to be out of specifications in size. Castings made from briquettes were comparable with those made from buttons in parity, homogeneity of the alloy, and lack of voids. Skulls from the casting of briquettes varied form 10 to 11 per cent of the weight charged as compared to normal skulls of 2 or 3 percent of the weight charged when buttons are cast. Because of the large skulls, briquetting is not as efficient as recycling the turnings to the reduction operation