Rhenium is a dense, silvery-white transition metal known for its exceptional high-temperature strength, resistance to oxidation, and chemical inertness. Discovered in 1925 by W. Noddack, O. Berg, and I. Tacke, rhenium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth’s crust and is typically recovered as a byproduct of molybdenum processing. In powder form, it serves as a critical material for aerospace, electronics, and high-temperature thermoelectric applications.
Material Overview
Rhenium has a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal structure, a melting point of 3180 °C, and a density of 21.02 g/cm³—one of the highest among all metals. It exhibits high tensile strength (up to 880 MPa at room temperature for powder-metallurgy grades) and maintains structural integrity above 2000 °C (Su et al., 2022). Its electrical resistivity is approximately 19.3 µ?·cm at 20 °C, and its thermal conductivity ranges from 48 to 71 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ depending on temperature (Sims et al., 1955). Powder metallurgical (PM) rhenium displays fine, equiaxed grains and uniform microstructure, improving creep and fatigue resistance compared to cast forms. Modern HIP and electroformed rhenium variants exhibit excellent ductility and dimensional stability in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres (Biaglow, 1998).
Applications and Advantages
Rhenium powder is extensively used in the manufacture of high-temperature thermocouples, rocket thrusters, furnace filaments, and electrical contacts. Its outstanding mechanical strength and oxidation resistance make it suitable for aerospace propulsion systems operating above 1650 °C (Leonhardt et al., 1999). Molybdenum–rhenium alloys, containing 40–50 wt% Re, exhibit improved ductility and thermal shock resistance, making them ideal for thermionic emitters and plasma-facing components. Rhenium’s unique combination of high hardness, wear resistance, and chemical inertness also supports its use in advanced coatings and superalloy development. Ongoing research focuses on optimizing powder sintering and additive manufacturing to enhance density and anisotropy control for next-generation applications.
Goodfellow Availability
Goodfellow supplies high-purity rhenium powders suitable for research and industrial use in extreme-temperature environments. Custom particle size distributions and quantities can be provided to meet experimental or production-scale requirements. Explore rhenium and related refractory metals through the Goodfellow product finder.
References
- Sims, C. T., Craighead, C. M., & Jaffee, R. I. (1955). Physical and mechanical properties of rhenium. JOM, 7(1), 51–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03377474
- Biaglow, J. A. (1998). High temperature rhenium material properties. AIAA Proceedings, 98-3354. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1998-3354
- Leonhardt, T., Carlen, J.-C., Buck, M., Brinkman, C. R., Ren, W., & Stevens, C. O. (1999). Investigation of mechanical properties and microstructure of various molybdenum–rhenium alloys. AIP Conference Proceedings, 474, 491–498. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.57638
- Su, H., Yan, X., Liu, X., Ai, Y., Ma, K., Li, R., Zhang, Z., Sun, Y., & Liu, S. (2022). Research on high-temperature mechanical properties and microstructure of powder metallurgical rhenium. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 105861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2022.105861
- Diaz, J. J. (1996). Pure rhenium metal. IEEE Potentials, 15(1), 35–38. https://doi.org/10.1109/45.481375