Rhenium metal

Rhenium metal particles are metallic particles with a silvery grey metallic luster, high melting point (approx. 3180°C), high hardness, high density (approx. 21.02g/cm³), good thermal and electrical conductivity, good chemical stability at elevated temperatures, and play an important role in aerospace, electronics, and chemical catalysis.

Characteristics

Density: The high density of about 21.03 g/cm³ gives rhenium metal particles a large mass for the same volume, which is a unique advantage in applications where density is important, such as in the aerospace industry for manufacturing parts with high weight requirements.

Melting point: With a melting point of 3180°C, rhenium is a high melting point metal. Its high melting point allows it to maintain a stable structure and properties at high temperatures, making it suitable for the preparation of high-temperature alloys and the manufacture of components under high-temperature operating conditions, such as the hot end of jet engines.

Boiling point: Boiling point is 5596℃, the higher boiling point ensures that rhenium metal particles are not easy to vaporise at high temperature, and can work stably for a long time in a high temperature environment.

Colour and Appearance: It usually shows silver grey metallic luster, with good metallic texture. If the particle size is small or there is a special microstructure on the surface, it may affect its gloss to some extent.

Oxidation state: rhenium’s oxidation state is rich, can show 0, -1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7 and other valence states, the main oxidation state is + 3, +4, +5, +7. Different oxidation states enable it to participate in a variety of chemical reactions, the formation of different compounds, which provides a basis for the rhenium particles in the catalytic and other fields of application.

Chemical stability: lump rhenium is more stable in air, but powdered rhenium is relatively active. In humid air, spongy rhenium will be slowly oxidised to oxygenated acids; when heated to 350-400°C in air, it will form volatile dirhenium heptaoxide (Re₂O₇).

Reactivity: Rhenium can combine with many non-metallic elements, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulphur and so on. It can react with oxidising acids (such as nitric acid, concentrated sulphuric acid) to form perrhenic acid.

Hardness: high hardness, whether as granular or made of block material, have good wear resistance and resistance to deformation, which makes rhenium metal particles in some of the material hardness requirements of high occasions, such as machining, mould making and other fields have the potential for application.

Strength: high tensile strength, about 1070 MPa, yield strength of about 290 MPa, able to withstand greater tensile force and pressure and not easy to break or deformation.

Ductility: It has a certain degree of ductility, the elongation at break is between 15% and 25%, which means that rhenium metal particles can be processed into a variety of shapes and sizes of products under appropriate processing conditions.

Electrical properties: good electrical conductivity, relatively low resistivity, which makes rhenium metal particles in the electronic, electrical and other conductive performance requirements in the field of application may be, for example, for the manufacture of electrodes, electronic components and so on.

Thermal conductivity: high thermal conductivity, about 39.6 W / m Kai, can quickly transfer heat, in some need for efficient heat dissipation occasions, such as radiators, heat exchangers and other equipment in the manufacture of the application value.

Applications

Aerospace field:

Manufacture of high-temperature alloy parts: the hot end parts of the aero-engine, such as turbine blades, combustion chambers, etc., need to work in the harsh environment of high temperature, high pressure and high stress. Rhenium metal particles added to tungsten, molybdenum, nickel and other metals formed in the alloy, can significantly increase the melting point, strength and plasticity of the alloy, so that it can withstand extreme working conditions, to protect the performance and reliability of the engine. For example, nickel rhenium alloys are used in the manufacture of jet engine turbine blades and combustion chambers, capable of carrying greater combustion speeds and high-temperature pressures, improving engine performance and durability.

Used as high temperature coating materials: rhenium – tungsten – molybdenum or rhenium – tungsten – platinum and other alloys, because of its high melting point, high electrical resistance, strong magnetism, good stability, is often used as a high-temperature resistant coating materials, used in the manufacture of artificial satellites and rockets shells, atomic reactors, shielding panels, ultra-high-temperature heater, etc., to protect the aircraft and nuclear facilities in the high-temperature environment, the safe operation.

Electronic industry:

Electron-emitting cathode materials: rhenium metal particles have good electron-emitting properties, which can be used to manufacture electron tubes, picture tubes and other vacuum electronic devices cathode. Compared with traditional cathode materials, rhenium cathode not only emits electrons with better performance, but also longer service life, which can improve the performance and stability of electronic equipment.

Integrated circuit manufacturing: In the manufacturing process of semiconductor integrated circuits, rhenium metal particles can be used as additives or coating materials to improve the chip’s electrical conductivity and heat resistance. For example, adding rhenium to the metal interconnect layer of a chip can reduce resistance and improve signal transmission speed and circuit reliability.

Petrochemical field:

Catalyst: rhenium is a highly efficient catalyst that plays an important role in petroleum refining and chemical production. For example, in the process of petroleum reforming, rhenium catalyst can promote the conversion of hydrocarbons and improve the yield of products such as gasoline, aromatics and hydrogen; in hydrogenation reaction, rhenium can be used as a catalyst for the decomposition of polymers and the production of fuel oil from organic matter and other processes.

Corrosion-resistant materials: some equipment and pipelines in the petrochemical industry need to work in corrosive environments, rhenium metal particles can be added to alloys to create materials with good corrosion-resistant properties, used in the manufacture of chemical equipment parts, pipelines and so on, to extend the service life of the equipment.

Medical field:

Medical implant materials: rhenium metal has good biocompatibility and corrosion resistance, can be used to manufacture artificial joints, dental implants, pacemakers and other medical implants. These implants need to work in the internal environment of the human body for a long time, the properties of rhenium can ensure its safety and reliability, and reduce adverse reactions to the human body.

Radiopharmaceuticals: Some radioisotopes of rhenium can be used to prepare radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. For example, rhenium – 188 can be used in radionuclide therapy for targeted treatment of diseases such as cancer.

Other fields:
Manufacture of filament: rhenium metal particles can be used to manufacture special incandescent light bulb filament, its high temperature resistance can ensure that the filament at high temperatures for a long time to work stably, improve the service life of the bulb and brightness.

Thermocouple materials: tungsten rhenium, molybdenum rhenium and other alloy thermocouples can be used to measure the temperature of the high temperature environment, can be more than 3000 ℃ in the high temperature environment to accurately measure the temperature, widely used in high temperature furnaces, metallurgy, chemical industry and other industries of temperature monitoring.