Uranium 233
37.
Production of small quantities of U-233 at Hanford and
processing at Oak Ridge are continuing.
In view of the limited
quantities of U-233 presently available, it is believed that more
information can be obtained by detailed non-destructive experiments than by a test shot, and a full scale test is not planned
at present.
38. It is.estimated that the value of one gram of U-233 in
oo
standard implosion weapons (less than 100 kilotons) is about the
same as that of. DELETED of plutonium.
U-233 may have usefulness
for weapons
gD
pss
Estimates of the cost
of U-233 indicate that this substitution could be made only at an
appreciable increase in the dollar cost per unit of explosive
force delivered to a target.
39.
DOE ARCHIVES
Production of U-233 in sufficient quantities to make
this application attractive would protably require the construction of a converter-type reactor, and special separations plent,
which would produce U-233 from thorium by burn-up of U-235 obtained from gaseous diffusion plant operation.
40,
Further studies of the nuclear end weapon prorerties of
U-233 are being made.
DELETED
os