Year
1968
Abstract
The largest single requirement for plutonium to date is the 1ยป,000 kilograms being fabricated into various fuel ele- ments for the liquid-metal, fast-breeder-reactor physics and critical experiments. The programs for the procurement of the plutonium have included fuel-element and fabrication process development at Argonne National Laboratory, prior to preparation of specifications. After negotiation of fuel fabrication contracts, the contractors' process procedures and quality-control plans are qualified by evaluation of a pilot-production lot of fuel elements. Resident ANL repre- sentatives maintain a continuing audit of the contractor procedures and inspections. Production, quality-control, and analytical data received from the contractor are statis- tically evaluated and compared vith results from the ANL receiving inspection. Compositional data on each element are coded on punch cards that are used in programming the reactor loadings.