(ORNL: Oak Ridge, TN) -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has set a new milestone in nuclear component innovation, successfully testing two 3D-printed stainless steel experimental capsules at the lab’s High Flux Isotope Reactor, or HFIR.

This achievement marks an important step in demonstrating that additively manufactured components can meet the rigorous safety standards required in nuclear applications.

These capsules hold sample materials during irradiation experiments, allowing researchers to test how those materials might respond in a nuclear reactor. The capsule provides a pressure and containment barrier for the experiment, which is a critical safety feature.

An ORNL team used a laser powder-bed system at the lab’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) to 3D print the 316H stainless steel capsules. This type of steel is being evaluated because it offers high-temperature strength, corrosion and radiation resistance, proven nuclear-grade performance, and weldability needed for safe, durable use in reactor environments.

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