Argentina, a reference country in research reactors

The first research reactor in Latin America was commissioned in 1958. It was built in Argentina, in just 9 months and with national professionals, instead of buying it turnkey as other countries did. This was the starting point for the subsequent development of research and production reactors in this country, which has become a reference point, for building, refurbishing, and selling components to other countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Peru, and Australia.

This first reactor, called RA-1, is located at the Constituyentes Atomic Centre, in the district of General San Martín, in the province of Buenos Aires. It is an open tank reactor with a thermal power of 40 kW and a core of 20% enriched uranium reflected by graphite, with light demineralized water as moderator and coolant. It was built on the basis of an American reactor.

It is used in a wide variety of fields such as research, education, teaching, calibrations, testing of new equipment, medicine or training and retraining of reactor personnel, with the following uses being highlighted:

• Radiation damage to metals. The modifications of the properties and alterations in the brittleness of different metals exposed to radiation, at low and high temperatures, are studied. It is used for the experimentation of new alloys and laminates to be used in nuclear power plants.
• Activation analysis. This technique is frequently used for the detection of contamination in foodstuffs, expert opinions for the judiciary, and in the study of land for mining, agriculture, and industry, among others.
• BNCT. Neutron capture therapy for the treatment of tumours of various kinds.
• Nuclear detectors. Performance testing, contrast, and calibration of different types of nuclear detectors to be used in other research reactors and nuclear power plants.
• Teaching and training of the personnel of other nuclear installations of greater or lesser power.
• Industry. In this field, we can highlight neutron radiography, the determination of impurities in metals, or the determination of traces in aluminum.
• Mineralogy. It is used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of trace minerals, metals and semiconductors.
• Environmental. Irradiation of aerial plants for the detection of contamination.

In addition to the RA-1, Argentina currently has four other research reactors:

• The critical assemblies RA-0, at the National University of Cordoba, and RA-4, at the National University of Rosario.
• The research and radioisotope production reactors RA-3, at the Ezeiza Atomic Centre, and RA-6, at the Bariloche Atomic Centre.