FABRICATION OF TANTALUM CAPSULES FOR LAMPRE I REACTOR

Tantalum fabrication methods primarily for use as a container for molten plutonium are described. One method involved the rolling of a Ta billet into sheet of the desired age, cutting a circular blank, and deep drawing the tantalum blank through successive stages into the desimed shape. Another method used for the fabrication of Ta containers consisted of a combination of impact extrusion and ironing. This method involved the extrusion of the cast billet into rod, swaging the rod to a suitable diameter, and cutting it into slugs of the desired length. The slugs were then impact rod, swaging the rid ti a suitable diameter, and cutting it into slugs of the desired length. The slugs were then impact extruded into heavy walled containers. These starting containers were then taken through successive dies where the wall thickness was ironed down to the desired gage. (auth)