Materials testing reactor explained

A materials testing reactor (MTR) is a high-flux research nuclear reactor aimed at studying materials exposed to a high neutron flux.

United States

The first Materials Testing Reactor (MTR), was designed jointly by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory and operated in Idaho from 1952-1970.^{[1] [2]}

Other Examples

Materials testing reactors include:

• BR2, the Belgian Reactor 2, moderated with a paraboloid beryllium matrix, in operation at SCK CEN since 1962.^[3]
• Dounreay Materials Testing Reactor, a Dido class reactor in the United Kingdom.
• ETRR-2, at the nuclear research center in Inshas, Egypt.
• Jules Horowitz Reactor, under construction at the Cadarache nuclear facility in southern France.^[4]
• Research reactor in Petten, the Netherlands.
• Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH) in Pakistan.
• Reactor Technology Complex of the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho, United States.
• RV-1 nuclear reactor in Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research, Venezuela.
• SAFARI-1, outside of Pretoria, South Africa, also used to produce medical isotopes.
• RSG G.A Siwabessy in Serpong, Indonesia
• Japan Material Testing Reactor (1968 to 2021).^[5]
• Washington State University Reactor (1961 to 1967)

See also

• List of nuclear reactors

External links

• Ne.anl.gov: MTR Reactors designed by the Argonne National Laboratory
• Docs.google.com: Materials Testing Reactor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Studsvik . A message from . PacTec . A message from . The MTR—Gone now, but not forgotten . American Nuclear Society -- ANS . 2025-07-25 . 2025-07-25.
2. Materials Testing Reactor . Physics Today . 5 . 6 . 1952-06-01 . 0031-9228 . 10.1063/1.3067632 . free . 27–28 . 2025-07-25.
3. Web site: Baugnet . J.M. . Roedt . Ch. de . Gubel . P. . Koonen . E. . The BR2 materials testing reactor. Past, ongoing and under-study upgradings . INIS – International Nuclear Information System . 2025-01-14 . 2025-07-25 . 34–34.
4. Web site: Jules Horowitz Materials Testing Reactor (JHR) . Rincón educativo . 2024-01-10 . 2025-07-25.
5. Web site: Japan Atomic Energy Agency Oarai Nuclear Engineering Institute . 国立研究開発法人日本原子力研究開発機構 . 2025-07-25.