Facilities
Material Fuels Complex (MFC)
World-Class Facilities for Nuclear Materials Testing
The historical infrastructure of MFC combined with more recent upgrades and installations have resulted in a world-class assemblage of facilities, capabilities, and instruments for handling, testing, and characterizing radioactive materials such as nuclear reactor fuels, components, and structural materials.
Advanced Fuel Fabrication (AFF)
AFF’s operations involve research and development primarily with uranium-bearing fuels and associated surrogate materials to increase MFC’s advanced fuel manufacturing capabilities.
Analytical Research Laboratories (ARL)
ARL supports chemical, radiochemical, physical and analytical data needed for advanced nuclear fuel design, waste management, environmental and other INL programs.
Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility (A3F)
The Aurora Fuel Fabrication
Facility (A3F) at the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) is being constructed for Oklo to fabricate fuel assemblies for its first Aurora
powerhouse reactor on the INL Site.
Electron Microscopy Laboratory (EML)
Researchers at the Electron Microscopy Laboratory use electron and optical microscopes to characterize materials as well as prepare high quality samples from radioactive materials.
Engineering Development Laboratory (EDL)
The Engineering Development Laboratory is used for fabrication, assembly, mock-up and testing for the Space Nuclear Power & Isotope Technologies Division. The EDL is a non-nuclear facility, managed as a laboratory space in accordance with INL work control requirements.
Experimental Fuels Fabrication (EFF)
EFF includes uranium metal forming equipment, a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe, electrical discharge machine, a cold rolling mill, and other fabrication equipment.
Fuels and Applied Science Building (FASB)
FASB is a radiological facility that houses small hot cells, gloveboxes, hoods, and other equipment that supports nuclear energy research and development. This facility is a key part of the fuel development mission of MFC at INL.
Fuel Conditioning Facility (FCF)
INL’s Fuel Conditioning Facility supports work to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a nuclear recycling technique called pyroprocessing. FCF’s unique capabilities make it an ideal facility for its primary mission to support treatment of DOE-owned sodium-bonded metal fuel.
Hot Fuels Examination Facility (HFEF)
HFEF allows researchers to remotely handle and perform detailed nondestructive and destructive examination of highly irradiated fuel and material samples.
Irradiated Materials Characterization Laboratory (IMCL)
The Irradiated Materials Characterization Laboratory is home to a variety of high-end instruments that allow researchers to study irradiated fuels and materials at the micro, nano and atomic levels, which is where irradiation damage occurs.
Radiochemistry Laboratory (RCL)
The Radiochemistry Laboratory is located adjacent to the Analytical Research Laboratories and focuses on analysis and characterization of nuclear fission products, radioisotope separation and element dissolution.
Research Collaboration Building (RCB)
The Research Collaboration Building (RCB) provides dedicated space for visiting researchers to interact with INL research staff at the Materials and Fuels Complex.
Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)
Idaho National Laboratory’s Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL) is designed as a Hazard Category 3 facility to serve as a national center for accelerated research, development, and qualification of nuclear structural materials.
Space and Security Power Systems Facility (SSPSF)
The Space Nuclear Power and Isotope Technologies (SNPIT) division manages the Space and Security Power Systems Facility (SSPSF), where assembly and testing capabilities for radioisotope power systems (RPSs) reside.
Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT)
The Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility allows researchers to test nuclear fuels and materials in off-normal and accident conditions, providing key data that helps improve safety and efficiency.
Zero Power Physics Reactor Facility (ZPPR)
The ZPPR facility consists of a workroom, cell area, and material storage vault with capabilities for storage, inspection, and repackaging of transuranic elements and enriched uranium for material maintenance activities and to supply feedstock for advanced nuclear research projects.
Contact Information
MFC Communications Team