CHAPTER 5
DISCUSSION
5.1
RESULTS
Subject to certain technical limitations, participation in
CASTLE has produced information suitable fcr direct application to a
military situation involving the detonation of thermonuclear weapons
in harbors and in relatively shallow coastal waters contiguous to
strategically important shore installations, The information obtained
is also expected to be applicable, by suitable extrapolation, to
surface and shallow water detonations of moderate yield fission type
weapons,
One of the technical limitations to unreserved acceptance of
CASTLE data lies in the atypical, calcareous nature of the contaminant
residues,
.
The contaminant resulting from Shotz 2, h, and 6 was very’
tenacious and on most surfaces resisted hosing and scrubbing decon~
tamination efforts which were effective at JANGLE,
This difference
seems to be largely a function of the nature of the contaminant which
in this case was predominantly liquid. It is believed that the adherence characteristics observed resulted from adsorption of the
fission product ions found in this liquid.
The following is
experimental evidence to support the above theory:
1. Radioautographs showed a smear of contamination with a more
or less uniform distribution of diffused "hot spots". No particulates
were found to be associated with these "hot spots",
2. The application of carriers such as strontium, cerium, and
te
NN .
iron effectively decontaminated these surfaces. This is the result
of ion exchange,
3. A complexing agent for a similar reason (in this case 3
per cent "Versene") was also effective in decontamination.
.
Contaminant penetration into the surfaces of painted and —
unpainted wood was approximately the same. This is characteristic
-of ion exchange but would not apply to particulates.
The explanation presented in referencel; relative to the
tenacious nature of the contaminant found on the rafts in IVY appears
doubtful in view of the above evidence. This reference indicates
38
CONFIDENTIAL — RESTRICTED DATA