Rhenium

Nuclear Industry

Chemical Industry

Catalog

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Rhenium

ASTM B760

ASTM B2891

Rhenium rhenium (symbol Re, atomic number 75) is one of the rarest and most valuable metals in the world. With one of the highest melting points of any element, exceptional mechanical strength at high temperatures, and high chemical stability, it has become a strategic material for cutting-edge industries.

Concept Métal, a specialist in non-ferrous metals and specialty metals, supports you in sourcing this exceptional metal and its alloys.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Rhenium

Rhenium has exceptional properties that explain its industrial significance:

Density : 21.02 g/cm³, making it one of the densest metals after osmium, iridium, and platinum.
Melting point : 3,186 °C, the third highest of all elements, behind tungsten and carbon.
Excellent mechanical strength maintained at very high temperatures, including above 2,000 °C.
Very good ductility, even after multiple thermal cycles, unlike other refractory metals, which become brittle.
Resistance to wear and corrosion, particularly against chemical attack in acidic environments.

Its rarity—it is less abundant than gold in the Earth's crust—and the complexity of its extraction account for its high cost. Rhenium is primarily obtained as a byproduct of molybdenum processing.

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Industrial Applications of Rhenium

Thanks to its exceptional properties, rhenium is used in critical technical applications:

Aeronautics and Space : the main market for rhenium, along with nickel-based superalloys (CMSX-4, René N6, PWA 1484) used for single-crystal blades in the high-pressure turbines of aircraft and rocket engines. Adding 3 to 6% rhenium significantly improves high-temperature creep resistance.
Petrochemical Catalysis : Platinum-rhenium catalysts are used in naphtha reforming to produce high-octane gasoline.
Electronics : filaments for mass spectrometers, X-ray tubes, and high-temperature equipment.
Scientific Instrumentation : very high-temperature thermocouples (tungsten-rhenium pairs).
Copper-rhenium and molybdenum-rhenium alloys : for applications requiring both conductivity and thermal stability.

Colors and shapes available at Concept Métal

Concept Métal rhenium and its alloys in various forms tailored to your technical needs:

Pure rhenium : bars, wires, strips, sheets.
Tungsten-rhenium (W-Re) alloys : W-3Re, W-5Re, W-25Re, W-26Re for thermocouples and high-temperature applications.
Molybdenum-rhenium (Mo-Re) alloys : Mo-41Re, Mo-47.5Re for applications requiring both ductility and heat resistance.
Custom Parts : machining to specifications in common grades of rhenium and alloys.

Given the scarcity and high cost of rhenium, each project undergoes a preliminary study to optimize the quantities used and ensure the availability of the material.

Concept Metal, Your Rhenium Supplier

Sourcing rhenium requires a strong network and in-depth technical expertise.

Concept Métal, based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, leverages its international partnerships to offer you certified rhenium, accompanied by all relevant quality documentation (chemical composition, mechanical properties, test results).

Our specialists will advise you on choosing the most suitable grade, the technical feasibility of your project, and possible alternatives. Contact us for a personalized quote.

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Our teams can source specific grades or those that are hard to find on the market. Contact us with your designation or standard.