Efficient testing of ITER materials and components at the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors´ experimental facilities

The Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (RIAR) of the State Scientific Centre of the Russian Federation has carried out reactor tests of fusion reactor materials and components. RIAR contains an ideal complex of installations, experimental setups, and diagnostics for such investigations. It includes several different types of reactors, including a fast neutron reactor, a high-flux intermediate-neutron SM-3 reactor, an intermediate-neutron loop reactor, and two RBT-type reactors, and a “hot cells” complex with remote handling facilities to allow study of the physical-mechanical properties, structure, and elemental composition of irradiated materials. RIAR has carried out a number of initial experiments, including testing of copper and vanadium alloys, electro-insulative coatings, steels, ceramics, diagnostic systems materials, and in-core and hot cell set-ups for divertor mock-up testing, and has collaborative efforts underway with the Scientific Research Institute Electrophysical Apparatus-St. Petersburg (SRIEA), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), “Red Star”, the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE), the Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials (SRIIM), and Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL)