Abstract <p>Decommissioning of nuclear power plants and deactivation of the reactor primary loop from radioactive surface deposits during scheduled repairs is one of the urgent problems of the nuclear industry. Widely used radiochemical methods of deactivation lead to an increase in the secondary radioactive waste volume. Therefore, to solve effectively the deactivation problem, we are developing the “dry” ion-plasma technology based on the ion and thermal sputtering of radioactive surface deposits in an inert gas and eliminating the formation of liquid radioactive waste. This article presents the results of the experimental test of the operability of ion-plasma technology in laboratory conditions using the metal samples of reactor stainless steel, brass alloys, copper, and aluminum. The ranges of operating parameters of the technology were experimentally determined.</p>