Rhenium There are 19 products.

Rhenium Metal Description

Rhenium is a rare refractory metal known for its high melting point, high strength, good plasticity, and excellent mechanical stability. With a melting point second only to tungsten at 3180°C, rhenium exhibits no brittle critical transition temperature. It demonstrates excellent creep resistance under high temperatures and rapid cooling and heating conditions, making it suitable for ultra-high temperature and strong thermal shock working environments. Rhenium has a room temperature tensile strength of more than 1172 MPa, and at 2200°C, it can still maintain a tensile strength of 48 MPa, surpassing other metals. Rhenium-manufactured engine nozzles can withstand 100,000 thermal fatigue cycles without failure at 2200°C. Additionally, rhenium offers excellent resistance to wear and corrosion, maintains chemical inertness to most gases except oxygen, and resists hot hydrogen corrosion. Due to these properties, rhenium and its alloys are widely used in petrochemical, electronics, and aerospace industries, becoming a key material in modern high-tech fields.

Rhenium is a silvery-white, soft rare metal with a density of 21.04 g/cm³, a melting point of 3186°C, and a boiling point of 5596°C. It naturally occurs as two isotopes, 187Re and 185Re, with 187Re being radioactive. Rhenium is increasingly used in aerospace, petrochemical, electronics, and medical fields. About 79% of rhenium is used for high-temperature alloys in aerospace, 9% for platinum-rhenium catalysts for gasoline, 6% for high-temperature alloys in industrial gas turbines, and 6% for producing tungsten-rhenium, molybdenum-rhenium, and other alloys. Rhenium-containing minerals are mainly found in Eurasia, North America, and western South America, with over 33,000 tons of associated rhenium resources worldwide.

Rhenium Alloy Description

Tungsten rhenium alloy

Tungsten rhenium alloy is a high-performance material made by combining tungsten (W) with a small amount of rhenium (Re), typically ranging from 3% to 25%. This alloy offers exceptional strength, high melting point, and thermal conductivity, along with enhanced ductility and resistance to thermal shock from the rhenium addition. Known for its superior mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, tungsten rhenium alloy is widely used in aerospace, electronics, high-temperature sensors, and thermocouples. Its resistance to oxidation and corrosion makes it ideal for demanding environments, ensuring long-lasting performance in precision instruments and high-performance electrical components.

Molybdenum rhenium alloy

Molybdenum rhenium alloy is a high-performance material composed of molybdenum (Mo) and a small percentage of rhenium (Re), typically ranging from 3% to 50%. This alloy combines the excellent high-temperature strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability of molybdenum with the enhanced ductility, toughness, and resistance to thermal shock provided by rhenium. Molybdenum rhenium alloys are widely used in aerospace, electronics, and high-temperature applications, such as in thermocouples, heating elements, and vacuum devices. The addition of rhenium improves the alloy's resistance to oxidation and wear, making it ideal for demanding environments where durability and reliability are critical. With its superior mechanical properties and high melting point, molybdenum rhenium alloy is an essential material for industries requiring high-performance materials under extreme conditions.

What Is Rhenium Used for?

1. Alloying Element: Rhenium can form a series of alloys with nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, platinum, iron, copper, and other metals. Rhenium-nickel, rhenium-tungsten, and rhenium-molybdenum high-temperature alloys are the most important rhenium alloys.

2. Catalysts: Rhenium and its compounds have excellent catalytic activity. In petroleum refining, adding rhenium to Pt catalysts with Al₂O₃ carriers results in platinum-rhenium catalysts with higher activity and better stability, increasing service life to 3-4 years and improving gasoline, aromatics, and hydrogen yields. Rhenium is also used as a catalyst in automobile exhaust purification and fuel cells.

3. Coatings and Films: Rhenium coatings and films resist high temperatures, high pressure, and abrasion. Depositing rhenium on rocket nozzles, barrels, and gun chambers prevents surface loss due to thermal shock and chemical corrosion. Rhenium-nickel-iridium coatings can produce large-grain diamonds, and rhenium can be used in electroluminescent materials.

4. Medical Applications: Scientists have found that radioactive rhenium can be used to treat diseases. Various radioactive pharmaceuticals made from technetium-rhenium complexes have been developed to treat malignant tumors, such as liver cancer.