THE ACHIEVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF DESIRED DIMENSIONS IN COMPLEX, PRECISION-BUILT STRUCTURES, SUCH AS ROCKET-MOTOR CASES, ARE CRITICAL AND TECHNICALLY INVOLVED PROBLEMS. Their proper functioning demands close dimensional tolerances. Dimensional stability is extremely difficult toACHIEVE IN STEELS AT ULTRAHIGH STRENGTH LEVELS. The problem stems from interacting metallurgical factors which manifest themselves in volumetric and shape changes. The principal sources of size change are the changes in specific volume accompanying the phase transformations which occur in hardening and tempering. Distortion occurs when a part deforms in response to stress. The problem of dimensional instability is analyzed, the factors involved are discussed, and recommendations are made regarding the control of these factors. (Author).

The results of a state-of-the-art survey covering niobium and 18 of its most promising alloys are presented. All data are given in tabular and graphical form covering some of the more important physical, mechanical, and metallurgical properties for each material. References are given at the conclusion of each material section.

This report is the third of a series which will periodically summarize the status of the various contracts involved in the Department of Defense Refractory Metals Sheet Rolling Program. Under this program, selected candidate materials are being carried through one or more of the following consecutive phases: Phase I, development of a sheet-production practice; Phase II, establishment of minimum design data; and Phase III, evaluation of sheetfabrication characteristics. To the present time, 13 contracts have been funded or planned in support of the Phase I, II, and III activities. This report summarizes the status of each of these individual contracts as of November 1, 1964. The first section describes the overall program of the Department of Defense Refractory Metals Sheet Rolling Program. Following, in the order of their discussions, are sections dealing with fabricable molybdenum alloys, unalloyed tungsten, columbium alloys, and tantalum alloys. (Author).

The Nb program is nearing completion of laboratory tory rolling studiory materials, *Heat resistant alloys, *Sheets, Niobium alloys, Molybdenum alloys, Tantalum alloys, Tungsten alloys, Titanium alloys, Zirconium alloys, Tungsten, Powder metallurgy, Electric arcs, Manufacturing methods, Mechanical proper ies, Forging, Heat treatment, Melting, Extrusion, Deformation, Hardness, Rolling mills, Processing. Identifiers: Floturning. The Nb program is nearing completion of laboratory tory rolling studies, and a single composition for larger scale rolling studies will be selected in the near future. In the Mo program, it has been shown that true hot forging of billets to sheet bar results in higher recrystallization temperatures of TZM and Mo-0.5Ti sheet than are obtained when normal forging temperatures are used. The Ta program is in the early stages of ingot production and primary breakdown fabrication of the Ta-30Nb-7.5V alloy. Three methods of fabricating W sheet are being investigated: rolling of powder-metallurgy billets, fabrication of arc-melted ingots, and floturning of cylindrical blanks. Properties obtained on both powdermetallurgy and arc-melted tungsten sheet compare very favorably. Evaluation of the formability of Mo-alloy sheet has been delayed until sheet is available from the production program. (Author).

A summary is given of the status of the various contracts involved in the U.S. Government's Metalworking Processes and Equipment Program. (Author).