Founded on June 1, 1951, the Institute has 19 research departments and 3 laboratories conducting fundamental and applied studies in materials science, physics-chemical fracture mechanics of materials and strength of structures in the following interdisciplinary areas:

• Process of deformation and fracture of materials under the action of mechanical loadings and temperatures, in hydrogenating and corrosion-aggressive environments
• The theory of strength and durability of machines and structures, in particular, the theory and technology of metal protection against corrosion and corrosion-mechanical fracture; the assessment of the operation life of long-lived facilities
• Physical fields in heterogeneous materials; the theory, methods and systems for obtaining, analyzing and processing relevant information for diagnostics of materials and environment properties