Facilities | Argonne National Laboratory

The Nuclear Science and Engineering Division maintains world-class facilities where scientists and engineers perform cutting-edge research supporting design and safety of nuclear reactors.

Research Facility

Activated Materials Laboratory

AML will assist the nuclear community in examining radioactive samples at the High-Energy X-ray Microscope (HEXM) and other beamlines at the Advanced Photon Source.

Argonne researchers are using the laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source to discover the structure of viral proteins using X-ray crystallography. (Image by Argonne National Laboratory.)

Research Facility

Argonne Liquid Metal Experiment Facility

The ALEX facility is designed for research using liquid metal systems and reaches areas as varied as nuclear physics, material science, and nuclear engineering.

National User Facility

Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscope

The IVEM is used for in situ TEM studies of defect structures in materials under controlled ion irradiation and sample conditions.

Research Facility

Irradiated Materials Laboratory

Conducts research on the behavior of commercial nuclear reactor materials, including fuel cladding, pressure vessels, and other in-reactor components.

Research Facility

Mechanical and Environmental Testing Laboratory (METLab)

The METLab is a suite of testing capabilities used for evaluating mechanical performance of structural materials under various loading, temperature, and environmental conditions.

Research Facility

Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop Facility

Argonne’s METL facility supports development of next-generation components and workforce for sodium fast reactors.

Research Facility

Metal Additive Manufacturing Laboratory

Advancing the fundamental science related to metal AM technologies, innovations in component design, rapid prototyping and performance testing.

Research Facility

Natural Convection Shutdown Heat Removal Test Facility

Argonne’s Passive Natural Convection Shutdown Heat Removal Test Facility provides capability to conduct safety experiments in support of modern reactor design.

Research Facility

Non-Destructive Evaluation and Testing Facilities

Over 45 years experience in nondestructive evaluation enables the safe operation of advanced nuclear reactors.

Research Facility

Pressure Drop Experimental Loop for Investigations of Core Assemblies in Advanced Nuclear Reactors (PELICAN)

Argonne’s pressure drop experimental loop for investigation of core assemblies in advanced nuclear reactors (PELICAN) generates verification and validation data for modern reactor designs.