New 3D Printing Standard Set for the Nuclear Industry
Russia has introduced the country’s first technical standard governing 3D printing of critical components for nuclear equipment. The technology successfully completed qualification testing in 2025, marking an important step toward the broader adoption of additive manufacturing in reactor engineering.
Since 2018, specialists from OKBM Afrikantov and the Materials Research Institute have been working to introduce additive manufacturing into the nuclear sector. The selective laser melting method – known as SLM – fuses layers of metal powder using a laser to produce complex components that are extremely difficult to manufacture through conventional machining. However, applying this technology to nuclear systems required rigorous validation to ensure that printed parts can withstand radiation exposure and high-pressure operating conditions.
From Experiment to Standard
A key milestone in the project was the development of a composite pump component for the third circuit of the RITM-200 reactor installation. RITM-200 serves as the power platform for the Project 22220 nuclear icebreakers. The component, known as the “Koleso” (impeller), was printed from 12Kh18N10T stainless steel and subjected to extensive testing for strength, corrosion resistance, and radiation tolerance. After the part successfully passed all tests last year, engineers were able to finalize a full set of regulatory documentation.
Why Standardization Matters
Without approved standards, even the most thoroughly tested component cannot be cleared for operation at a nuclear power plant or aboard a nuclear-powered vessel. Previously, each printed component required individual certification. That process could take up to a year and often undermined the economic advantages of additive manufacturing. With the new standard in place, engineers at OKBM Afrikantov can design new components while relying on clearly defined parameters governing material porosity, residual stresses, and alloy microstructure.
The standard regulates the entire production chain – from metal powder preparation and laser calibration to post-processing and non-destructive inspection of finished components. Particular attention has been given to reproducibility. Each printed batch must match reference samples with deviations no greater than five microns. Such precision is essential for components used in reactor cooling systems, where even a microscopic crack could lead to serious operational risks.
Testing Under Arctic Conditions
RITM-200 reactor units are installed on the nuclear icebreakers Arktika, Sibir, Ural, and on the vessels Yakutiya and Chukotka currently under construction. These ships operate in some of the harshest conditions on the planet, breaking through ice up to three meters thick and working in temperatures ranging from minus 50°C to plus 40°C. Equipment on board experiences constant vibration, pressure fluctuations, and prolonged exposure to seawater salt, making the fleet an ideal testing environment for additive-manufactured components.
Successful use of 3D printing to produce parts for nuclear icebreakers opens the door to broader deployment of the technology. Engineers are already evaluating the possibility of manufacturing heat exchangers for the floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov and components for the experimental energy complex in Seversk, which forms a key part of the Proryv (Breakthrough) project aimed at developing a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
New Horizons for Materials Science
The new standard also creates a foundation for developing alloys specifically optimized for additive manufacturing. Researchers at the materials institute are studying compositions based on niobium and tantalum – metals produced at the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant. These alloys promise enhanced radiation resistance and could be applied in next-generation nuclear reactors.
Another promising direction is the production of functionally graded materials. In such components, material properties gradually change across the structure. For example, one section of a heat exchanger could be optimized for corrosion resistance while another is engineered to tolerate extreme temperatures. Solutions of this type are not achievable using conventional casting or machining techniques.
