1980-2000

Since the 1950s, the Institute has been conducted comprehensive work on the development of extraction technologies for processing irradiated nuclear materials under the scientific supervision of Viktor Shevchenko. These efforts that were assisted to by many sectoral research institutes, design bureaus, design institutes, and institutes of the Academy of Sciences, resulted in the creation of the first domestic RT-1 plant for the regeneration of spent nuclear fuel of nuclear power plants with VVER-440 reactors, transport power plants, and research reactors in 1977 on the base of Mayak Production Association. The plant has been operating successfully till now.

In 1979, the transfer to the extraction technology of the radiochemical plant in Chelyabinsk was completed, and in 1986 -- of the radiochemical plant in Tomsk.

At the same time, the Institute originated and developed a work front on the development of highly efficient mass-transfer chemical equipment with the use of the pulse principle under the scientific supervision of Professor Susanna Karpacheva. These developments became the basis for the reconstruction of the radiochemical plant in Tomsk, as well as hydrometallurgical enterprises in Dneprodzerzhinsk, Krasnokamensk, Stepnogorsk, etc.

Radiochemistry specialists of VNIINM performed a complex of research and design activities on the development of technologies for processing of low and medium-activity liquid radioactive waste for applications in radiochemical production, nuclear power plants and research centers. These technologies were later implemented at many plants and nuclear power plants for:

- cleaning of gas emissions from radioactive aerosols and harmful chemicals;

- decontamination of the first circuits of nuclear submarines, and equipment for radiochemical and chemical-metallurgical industries;

- solidification of liquid radioactive waste by asphalt-based solidification at the LNPP, and later -- at the Kalinin, Ignalinsky and Rovno nuclear power plants.

The problem of solidification of highly active liquid waste is one of the complex technological problems that define the safety of a nuclear power in general. The research and development carried out by the Institute together with design and engineering organizations of the industry and institutes of the Academy of Sciences, made it possible to design and develop a unique industrial-grade electric furnace for RW vitrification, EP-500. This facility not only processed all the waste from existing radiochemical production, but also eliminated the previously formed waste.

In 1986, employees of the Institute, using their experience in the field of treating radioactive materials and developments in decontamination, dust suppression, and processing of gaseous, liquid and solid waste, took part in the elimination of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. These works were carried out under the supervision of Academician Alexander Nikiforov and Professor Vladimir Schmidt.

Since the early 1950s and until late 1970s, the Institute has established teams of highly qualified metallurgists, corrosion experts, metal physicists, metal-makers , radio chemists, analysts, who have been capable to solve a wide range of problems for the defense industry, nuclear energy, and other sectors of the economy.

A comprehensive specialized experimental technological basis has been created with unique test benches and installations for materials research and manufacturing of pilot batches of products. At the same time, the Institute launched a unique environmental facility — a station for processing liquid radioactive waste, which contributed to the purity of the Moscow water area.

The Chernobyl disaster, which caused a long-term change in public attitude to nuclear energy, the "perestroika" period and the conversion of the military-industrial complex, the "post-perestroika", or "market", stage, that entailed changes in the socio-economic foundations of the country's life, had a profound impact on the state of the economy, industry, abstract and applied science, and specifically on VNIINM.

During this period, it was necessary to adapt to new economic conditions, to maintain our main areas of activity, and to look for new spheres and methods of management. The main task of the management and scientists was to preserve the Institute as a single integrated materials science and technology organization (to prevent VNIINM from collapsing in terms of specific areas of research and departments) and at the same time to give departments sufficient freedom in solving economic tasks, to increase the involvement of employees in the results of their work.

The radiochemical and analytical fields, i.e. the spheres where the Institute was leading, experienced significant difficulties. Their main reason was the lack of development of production facilities for fuel reprocessing and the involvement of plutonium in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Within the framework of the Federal Target Program "Fuel and energy", the Institute, together with other research institutes and design bureaus, developed the subprogram "Fuel supply for the nuclear energy industry. Development of the nuclear power fuel cycle of nuclear power plants". The Program entailed R&D and capital expenditures that should cover, among other things, the development of new radiochemical production facilities and the closure of the plutonium fuel cycle. However, due to insufficient budget funding, it was not possible to fully implement the Program.

In 1995, the State Program on Radioactive Waste Management was approved, and VNIINM joined the work on its scientific and organizational support.

In the 1990s, the situation in the fuel element and fuel sector has become much better. At that time, the basis for coordination of activities on nuclear power plant fuel was the then-current Sectoral Program "Fuel elements and fuel assemblies of nuclear power plants", which was financed mainly from the TVEL Concern enterprises’ budget. The Concern's enterprises, VNIINM and design bureaus signed an agreement on mutual obligations in solving the problems of maintaining the fuel market of the Russian Federation by increasing the duration of campaigns, improving fuel cycle efficiency, introducing load modes, and upgrading jacket-free fuel assemblies.

During this period, the materials science and technology sector experienced the greatest difficulties due to the reduction in the volume of defense orders. In the period of 1985 to 1995, the share of such orders won by the Institute decreased more than five times. At the same time, the total funding of the Institute was likewise reduced.

The efforts on this direction were mainly focused on improving materials and technologies intended for defense purposes, production of components made of zirconium alloys, the technology of superconductors and beryllium production, the development of the concept of long-term storage of decommissioned charges and the involvement of released plutonium in nuclear power engineering sector (along with the fuel element sphere). The Institute's conversion program, which was focused in the mid-1980s mainly on the domestic market and involved the development of new production facilities at the enterprises of the industry, was largely transformed and aimed at local mini-production facilities of the Institute with the supply of products mainly to foreign customers.

In the mid-1990s, the VNIINM management decided to upgrade the Institute's superconductor production site, including for the ITER magnetic system, to achieve the production volume of 5 to 15 tons per year. A production facility was developed for the production of 30 tons per year of fast-quenched magnetic powders (FQMP) based on Nd-Fe-B. The project to develop the FQMP production facility was approved by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and recommended as an investment target. The project was implemented at the expense of soft loans by Russian Ministry of Nuclear Energy and by the Technological Development Fund of the Ministry of Science.

A site for the production of filters and filter equipment was also established.

There was a production floor engaged in the application of thin-film coatings to various products and materials for the needs of the national economy.

In the last years of the 20th century, the area of the Institute's interest has become rather broad, and VNIINM entered the market era by establishing a foothold on international markets. The Institute did contract-based business with major companies in Western Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. The volume of works performed under contracts with foreign companies was about 10% of the volume of own works. Institute implemented projects within the framework of the International Science and Technology Center, which offered support to the Institute's specialists.

During this difficult period for the national science, the Institute continued its work. The Institute's achievements and the importance of its current work carried out in the interests of defense and the national economy were recognized by awarding it the status of the State Research Center of the Russian Federation in 1994.

In the 1990s, six employees of the Institute were awarded State Prizes for their work on the development of new superconducting materials, the production and research of transuranium elements, and the development of an automatic line for the production of fuel elements for fast nuclear reactors. Three employees were awarded the Khlopin Award. By the 50th anniversary of the Institute, nineteen of its employees were awarded government awards of the Russian Federation.