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Commercial refractories of alumina, magnesia, zirconia, and silica, as well as samples of graphite, thoria, beryllia, boron carbide, and quartz, were tested for compatibility with high-temperature and boiling sodium. Samples were exposed either to static sodium at 850°C for five hours or to boiling sodium for about an hour. Graphite, thoria, beryllia, boron carbide, and refractories with high alumina or magnesia contents, but with low silica and chromic oxide contents, were found to be compatible with hightemperature and boiling sodium. Sample compatibility with sodium decreased with an increase in the silica content of the sample. Samples with large silica content failed completely. Bricks with high zirconia content did not withstand exposure to boiling sodium, but high-fired zirconia crucibles appeared to be in good condition after sodium exposure. bricks, the results of the ANL experiments with refractory bricks are in good agreement with those obtained in sodium compatibility experiments done at Westinghouse Advanced Reactors Division. Except for the results with the high-zirconia .3 Thanks are also due to J. Bingle for figure preparation, proofreading, and his helpful comments on the report, to J. Royal for his editorial assistance, v and to K. Wall and E. Residori for their excellent typing of this report.

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