Technology. Metrology. Production

For improved performance, reliability and safety of nuclear warheads, it is essential to perform a diversity of R&D tasks in material science and technology.

The Institute can handle nuclear weapons manufacturing techniques, all kinds of machining operations and metal welding methods, the making of composite, porous, ceramic and other materials, and all sorts of protective coatings, manufacture of automatics and electronics.

The most important technology-related research and development at RFNC - VNIIEF are:

  • development of new materials including composites with specified properties;
  • development of new alternative processes for polymeric materials, new adhesive joints and protective coatings;
  • study of nanomaterial making processes;
  • metal forming;
  • diffusion, electron-beam, laser, argon-arc, microplasma-arc, ultrasonic and other types of welding, soldering of metals with ceramics and glass;
  • study of the physical, chemical, technological, electric, magnetic and other properties of various materials and their behavior during long time in use and storage under different conditions;
  • chemical and radiochemical studies including mass spectrometric analysis.

The Institute has extensive manufacturing, diagnostic and metal-working capabilities. Measurements are the primary source of quantitative information about the product workmanship and performance.

Both measurement procedures and maintaining the measurement capabilities of the Institute have been the matter of keen interest ever since its early days.

Metrology service of the Institute is the lead organization within Rosatom, extensively working industry-wide on the tasks to support the uniformity and accuracy of measurements in the nuclear weapons industry. It represents the industry in the science and technology commission for metrology and measurement techniques at Rostekhregulirovanie agency, and in various Russian technical committees on measurements.

New processes can be developed and operated with the available manufacturing facilities at the VNIIEF plant and "Avangard" Electromechanical plant.

The two plants are making pyrotechnic agents and explosives and derivative parts from these, metal products, composite, ceramic, powdered and porous materials, plastics and rubber, automatics, various microelectronic assemblies and unique facilities for physical measurements.

The foundry, stamping, welding, plating and toolmaking facilities, and NDA, high pressure and proof test laboratories together with the main laboratory not only provide a wide range of products but also tests of their quality and so proof of compliance with the technical specifications for resistance to mechanical, thermal and climatic effects during operation.