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US Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratories 3D Print Nuclear-Grade Steel Pressure Vessel via Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing
2026-08-23
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Impact score: 28
According to VoxelMatters' August 23 report, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have launched a collaboration to expand the U.S. domestic pressure vessel supply chain using wire-arc additive manufacturing. At the Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Day (M2IND) event, they showcased a demonstration pressure vessel printed from nuclear-grade steel alloy. The vessel was produced on ORNL's three-arm MedUSA platform, which builds large parts from molten wire; INL contributes nuclear reactor and artificial intelligence expertise, while ORNL provides additive manufacturing research and manufacturing demonstration facility support. The laboratories are advancing so-called 'born-qualified' pressure vessels—components qualified using data collected during the printing process rather than post-production testing. The report notes that MedUSA printed a small nuclear pressure vessel in July, and Antares Nuclear's R1 Mark-0 microreactor reached criticality at INL in June. The team is now applying this approach to Antares' neutron sensor brackets, with potential applications spanning chemical refining, oil and gas, defense, and aerospace. This work remains at the R&D validation stage.
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美国橡树岭与爱达荷国家实验室用电弧增材打印核级钢压力容器
据 VoxelMatters 8月23日报道，美国橡树岭国家实验室（ORNL）与爱达荷国家实验室（INL）启动合作，以丝材电弧增材制造扩大美国本土压力容器供应链，并在材料与制造创新日（M2IND）活动上展出一件用核级钢合金打印的演示压力容器。据报道，该压力容器在 ORNL 的三机械臂 MedUSA 平台上打印，该平台以熔融金属丝构建大型部件；INL 提供核反应堆与人工智能专业能力，ORNL 提供增材制造研究与制造示范设施支持。两家实验室正推进所谓的「出生即合格」（born-qualified）压力容器——用打印过程中采集的数据、而非事后测试来鉴定部件。报道称，MedUSA 已于7月打印出一件小型核压力容器，Antares Nuclear 的 R1 Mark-0 微堆于6月在 INL 达到临界；该团队正把方法用于 Antares 的中子传感器支架，潜在应用覆盖化工精炼、油气、国防与航空航天。该成果属研发验证阶段。