History of the Institute

On December 8, 1944, the USSR State Defense Committee signed a resolution «On measures to ensure the development of uranium ore mining and processing» and the organization of the Institute of Special Metals of the NKVD (future JSC «VNIINM»).
During its existence, the names of the institute have changed:

Inspetsmet NKVD
NII-9 («Nine»).
Base No. 1 of the First Main Directorate under the USSR Council of Ministers
Glavgorstroy Research Institute
Enterprise P/I 3394
PO Box R-6575
All-Union Research Institute of Inorganic Materials
All-Russian Research Institute of Inorganic Materials named after A.A. Bochvar

The first plutonium from uranium blocks was produced in the Soviet Union in the installation No. 5. The main technological solutions used to create the first industrial radiochemical plant «B» at industrial complex No. 817 (now FSUE PA Mayak) had been developed there.

Under the leadership of Andrei Bochvar, the nuclear charge for the first domestic atomic bomb was created at industrial complex No. 817 (now FSUE PA Mayak) in Chelyabinsk-40 (now Ozersk).

Since the early 1950s, JSC «VNIINM» has become the technological and materials science center of the Soviet «peaceful atom». In 1954 fuel rods based on uranium alloy with 9 % molybdenum content was developed by the Institute for the uranium-graphite channel-type reactor of the world's first NPP, which was launched on June 27 in Obninsk.

The rods for the core of the first fast neutron reactor BR-1 was developed in JSC «VNIINM», which was used for neutron-physical and technological research that did not require large neutron fluxes. The technologies developed for this type of reactors made it possible to master extended reproduction of nuclear fuel through conversion of uranium-238 into plutonium-239.

The Institute's team created the design of the fuel assembly for the transport reactor of the first nuclear submarine “Leninsky Komsomol”.

«VNIINM» scientists and designers developed fuel assemblies for the unique transport reactor of the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker “Lenin”. The nuclear-powered ship helped to open the new stage of polar navigation and ensured winter navigation in the Arctic.

The work of the Institute's research team resulted in the technology of industrial production of metallic beryllium, beryllium oxide and products made of beryllium materials. The metal has become an innovation for many industries. Today it is used to manufacture gyroscopic and optical system components in aviation and rocket construction, space products, medical research and other high-precision equipment.

Under the leadership of Andrei Bochvar JSC «VNIINM» started to create a technology for superconducting materials obtaining, whose electrical resistance becomes zero at temperatures close to absolute zero, it is so-called low-temperature superconductors (LTSC). The creation of controlled thermonuclear fusion is now possible due to the development of superconducting technologies.

The first domestic water-water reactor of the PWR-210 vessel type was launched at Unit 1 of Novovoronezh NPP, the fuel for which was created at «VNIINM» JSC.

«VNIINM» scientists have developed technologies for large-scale production of zirconium and zirconium alloy products for the needs of the domestic nuclear power industry, mastered at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant in Glazov. For the first time in the world practice, the enterprise began to produce zirconium of nuclear purity necessary for the creation of alloys with specified properties.

JSC «VNIINM» has developed technologies for manufacturing superconductors for the world's first toroidal magnetic plasma confinement unit (tokamak) T-7 with a superconducting magnetic system made of niobium-titanium alloy wires. The tokamak is the most promising device for controlled thermonuclear fusion.

«VNIINM» scientists have created a technology for extracting tritium from irradiated targets at the «Ruslan» industrial light-water pool-type reactor, which was designed to produce tritium and various isotopes.

Radiochemists of the Institute developed the technology of processing and extraction of useful elements from irradiated uranium blocks of industrial graphite-water reactors for the world's largest radiochemical plant located at the site of JSC «Siberian Chemical Combine»in Seversk.

JSC «VNIINM» has developed technology for obtaining the first domestic high-temperature superconductor (HTSC), which exhibits superconductor properties at temperatures above 77 K (-196.2 °C). HTSC of the first generation have a wide range of applications - they are used in devices for energy storage, computers, superconducting quantum interference detectors - SCVIDs.

JSC «VNIINM» scientists have developed technologies for superconductors used in TOKAMAK (T-15) with superconducting windings made of wires based on the intermetallic compound Nb3Sn. The T-15 fusion research reactor was launched in the Soviet Union to demonstrate the possibilities of using superconducting magnets made of Nb3Sn alloy in reactor-scale facilities.

The specialists of «VNIINM»JSC developed the technology of fuel utilization for RBMK-type reactor with erbium addition, which allowed increasing the fuel burn up degree, decreasing the neutron irregularity while preserving the technological properties of the fuel.

The Bochvar Institute has created a zirconium-based corrosion-resistant alloy used in core structural materials of nuclear reactors. The alloy features high strength characteristics, corrosion resistance under boiling conditions, high resistance to radiation growth and creep.

Nb3Sn superconductors for toroidal field of the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) manufactured at the pilot production facility of «VNIINM» were successfully tested in Japan as a part of the model coil inserts in Japan .

To strengthen ROSATOM's position in foreign markets, JSC «VNIINM» has developed technologies for manufacturing square-section nuclear fuel for light-water reactors of foreign PWR design.

JSC VNIINM has developed a technology for the production of high-strength high-conductive conductors based on a composite, which consists of fibers made from copper-niobium alloy (CuNb) distributed in a copper matrix, which are used in the control and protection system of water-powered nuclear reactors and other areas. Industrial output is installed at the production sites of Metaltech and Rosatom State Corporation.

At the pilot site of «VNIINM» JSC production of vacuum-tight beryllium foil and X-ray equipment windows with thickness from 50 microns to 200 microns and diameter up to 50 mm was established. The products are used in the production of high-precision detectors, spectrometers and analyzers. A new brand and technology of industrial production of Russian beryllium has been developed for cladding panels of the first wall of the ITER.

At the Scientific and Technical Council of «VNIINM» JSC several technologies for manufacturing structural materials for core elements of BREST-OD-300 and BN-1200 reactors and fuel element cladding had been presented. The materials showed ultimate properties in tests and proved that they contribute to prolongation of the fuel campaign, reduction of the accident rate, and also have increased radiation resistance in fuel element cladding for fast reactors.

As part of the “Breakthrough” Project, «VNIINM» scientists created a special fuel element design and a technology for manufacturing mixed uranium-plutonium nitride fuel with increased density, thermal conductivity, and low heat capacity. MUPN fuel is used in promising fast neutron reactors with sodium and lead coolant.

JSC «VNIINM» developed a technology and implemented a project for decommissioning of
research building «B» in the conditions of dense urban development of Moscow to the state of a green lawn.

JSC «VNIINM» becomes the main scientific metrology center for the enterprises of Rosatom State Corporation. The Institute is instructed to provide scientific and methodological guidance in ensuring uniformity of measurements in the field of atomic energy use.

To ensure the uniformity of measurements in the Russian nuclear industry, the metrology department of «VNIINM» JSC has developed a unified system of interlaboratory comparative (comparative) tests, which help industry enterprises to confirm the accuracy of test, measurement and research results.

The Institute developed and manufactured the first fuel rods with REMIX fuel for the PWPR-1000 reactor. Its fuel composition is made of a mixture of regenerated uranium and plutonium, which is formed during reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, with the addition of enriched uranium. The use of REMIX fuel expands the raw material base of the nuclear power industry by closing the nuclear fuel cycle, and also makes it possible to reuse irradiated fuel instead of storing it.

Scientists and designers of «VNIINM»JSC started implementation of a comprehensive program for development of tolerant ATF fuel resistant to abnormal situations at NPPs. The introduction of emergency-resistant fuel is of key importance for bringing the system safety and reliability of nuclear power to a qualitatively new level.

«VNIINM» specialists are responsible for scientific management of fuel cycle development for the liquid salt research reactor and development of fuel compositions, as well as technologies for spent fuel regeneration and RW management.

The specialists of the fuel element department of «VNIINM» JSC have completed the development of the element base for the reactor core of the reactor unit of the super-powered nuclear icebreaker of the project 10510 «Leader».

JSC «VNIINM» has developed and manufactured samples of Nb3Sn superconducting wires (strands) of different design and alloying for the mega-science class project - Future Circular Collider (FCC) being built on the basis of CERN. In terms of a number of characteristics, the strands achieved record superconductivity indices, such as critical current density in the electromagnetic field, the coefficient of residual electrical resistance, and the effective wire diameter.

The Department of Non-Nuclear Materials and Isotope Products of «VNIINM» JSC has developed a technology for manufacturing beta-radiation sources and small-sized beta-voltaic energy sources based on tritium.
In a beta-voltaic cell, the beta particles emitted from the decay of radioactive isotopes are converted into an electric current using a semiconductor. The energy of such a source can be sufficient to power small devices such as pacemakers for long periods of time.

JSC VNIINM has developed for the international accelerator complex FAIR (Darmstadt, Germany) the design and manufacturing technology of a niobium-titanium superconductor, the uniqueness of which lies in the monolithic design of the wire. The Ion and Antiproton Research Center will use antiprotons and ions to conduct research in various fields of physics, biology and biomedical sciences.

In frame of the Federal Target Program «Ensuring Nuclear and Radiation Safety for 2016-2020 and for the Period until 2035» (FTP NRS-2), specialists of «VNIINM» JSC developed and implemented a program for decommissioning of the U-5 facility, which produced the first weapon-grade plutonium in the USSR. The emergency condition of the structures and engineering
systems of the U-5 unit posed a potential danger to the environment. Now the unit has been completely decommissioned.

The silicon carbide fuel element cladding developed by «VNIINM» specialists successfully passed the test cycle in the BOR-60 research reactor.
Materials based on silicon carbide have high mechanical strength, wear resistance, thermal conductivity, as well as corrosion and radiation resistance. Their application will significantly increase the operational safety of nuclear power plants.