{ "spore": "profile", "id": "tungsten-rhenium", "spore_version": "0.2", "family": "refractory-metals", "name": "Tungsten-rhenium alloys", "abbreviation": "W-Re", "role": "refractory alloy for high-temperature thermocouples, X-ray target tracks and nuclear-space design studies", "category": "metals", "type": "refractory-metals", "summary": "Tungsten-rhenium alloys add rhenium to tungsten to make it less brittle and easier to fabricate. The grades are named by rhenium content (W-3Re, W-5Re, W-26Re). The Concept Alloys data sheet gives a density of 19.4 g/cm3 for W-5Re and 19.7 g/cm3 for the W25/26Re column, and melting points of 3350 °C and 3120 °C. The W-5Re against W-26Re thermocouple pair has had the widest acceptance in industry. Rhenium-bearing tungsten also forms the focal track of rotating X-ray anodes. The same data sheet warns that these alloys oxidise rapidly at high temperature and are not recommended in oxidising environments.\n", "best_for": "High-temperature thermocouples and X-ray target tracks, used in reducing, inert or vacuum conditions where pure tungsten is too brittle", "weakest_at": "Rapid oxidation at high temperature in air or other oxidising gas (the data sheet says not recommended there)", "identity": { "formula": "Tungsten with rhenium added; grades W-3Re, W-5Re and W-26Re, where the number is the rhenium content in the grade name", "designations": [], "source": "klopp-tnd3483", "where": "Abstract, commercial arc-melted 26-percent-rhenium alloy (grade naming); the composition columns of the Concept Alloys data sheet are headed W3Re, W5Re and W25/26Re" }, "tags": { "environments": [], "stresses": [], "applications": [ "thermal-control", "structures", "electronics-and-chips" ] }, "properties": [ { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, W-5Re", "value": 19.4, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "W5Re column of the wrought alloy table; no temperature stated" }, "method": "Printed in the mechanical and physical properties table of the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, row Density, column W5Re (page 2 of 2)", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, W25/26Re column", "value": 19.7, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "W25/26Re column of the wrought alloy table (the column covers the 25 and 26 percent rhenium grades together); no temperature stated" }, "method": "Printed in the mechanical and physical properties table of the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, row Density, column W25/26 Re (page 2 of 2)", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "melting_point", "label": "Melting point, W-5Re", "value": 3350, "bound": "exact", "unit": "°C", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "W5Re column of the wrought alloy table" }, "method": "Printed in the mechanical and physical properties table of the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, row Melting Point, column W5Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "melting_point", "label": "Melting point, W25/26Re column", "value": 3120, "bound": "exact", "unit": "°C", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "W25/26Re column of the wrought alloy table" }, "method": "Printed in the mechanical and physical properties table of the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, row Melting Point, column W25/26 Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "electrical_resistivity", "label": "Electrical resistivity, W-5Re at 68 °F", "value": 70, "bound": "exact", "unit": "circ mil/ft", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "68 °F", "form": "annealed wrought alloy as printed (Resistivity row)" }, "method": "Printed in the resistivity row of the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Resistivity row, 68 °F line, column W5Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "electrical_resistivity", "label": "Electrical resistivity, W25/26Re at 68 °F", "value": 170, "bound": "exact", "unit": "circ mil/ft", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "68 °F", "form": "wrought alloy, W25/26Re column as printed" }, "method": "Printed in the resistivity row of the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Resistivity row, 68 °F line, column W25/26 Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, W-5Re annealed at 68 °F", "value": 220, "bound": "exact", "unit": "x 10^3 psi", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "68 °F", "form": "annealed wrought W5Re, as printed" }, "method": "Printed as tensile strength, annealed, in the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Tensile Strength ann. row, 68 °F line, column W5Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, W-5Re annealed at 1832 °F", "value": 65, "bound": "exact", "unit": "x 10^3 psi", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "1832 °F", "form": "annealed wrought W5Re, as printed" }, "method": "Printed as tensile strength, annealed, in the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Tensile Strength ann. row, 1832 °F line, column W5Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, W-5Re annealed at 3632 °F", "value": 26, "bound": "exact", "unit": "x 10^3 psi", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "3632 °F", "form": "annealed wrought W5Re, as printed" }, "method": "Printed as tensile strength, annealed, in the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Tensile Strength ann. row, 3632 °F line, column W5Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "label": "Tensile strength, W25/26Re annealed at 68 °F", "value": 200, "bound": "exact", "unit": "x 10^3 psi", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "68 °F", "form": "annealed wrought W25/26Re column, as printed" }, "method": "Printed as tensile strength, annealed, in the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Tensile Strength ann. row, 68 °F line, column W25/26 Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "elongation", "label": "Elongation, W-5Re at 68 °F", "value": 20, "bound": "exact", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "68 °F", "gauge": "% in 10 in, as printed" }, "method": "Printed as elongation in the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Elongation row, 68 °F line, column W5Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "elongation", "label": "Elongation, W25/26Re at 68 °F", "value": 11, "bound": "exact", "unit": "%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "68 °F", "gauge": "% in 10 in, as printed" }, "method": "Printed as elongation in the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, Elongation row, 68 °F line, column W25/26 Re", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "ductile_brittle_transition_temperature", "label": "Ductile-brittle transition, unalloyed recrystallized tungsten", "value": 490, "bound": "exact", "unit": "K", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "vacuum arc-melted, recrystallized unalloyed tungsten (comparison, not an alloy)", "test": "low-temperature bend and tension, 77 to 810 K range of the study" }, "method": "Stated in the abstract of the NASA technical note", "status": "ground", "source": "raffo-tnd4567", "where": "Abstract, first sentence on transition temperature", "source_detail": { "title": "Yielding and Fracture in Tungsten and Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys (NASA TN D-4567, Raffo)", "id": "NASA NTRS 19680015005", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19680015005/downloads/19680015005.pdf", "year": 1968, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "ductile_brittle_transition_temperature", "label": "Ductile-brittle transition, arc-melted W-25Re", "value": 350, "bound": "exact", "unit": "K", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "vacuum arc-melted tungsten with 25 percent rhenium, recrystallized", "test": "low-temperature yield and fracture tests, 77 to 810 K range of the study" }, "method": "Stated in the abstract of the NASA technical note", "status": "ground", "source": "raffo-tnd4567", "where": "Abstract, transition temperature reduced to 350 K by 25 percent rhenium", "source_detail": { "title": "Yielding and Fracture in Tungsten and Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys (NASA TN D-4567, Raffo)", "id": "NASA NTRS 19680015005", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19680015005/downloads/19680015005.pdf", "year": 1968, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "ductile_brittle_transition_temperature", "label": "Bend transition, arc-melted 26 percent Re worked sheet", "value": -150, "bound": "exact", "unit": "°F", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "arc-melted 26-percent-rhenium alloy, worked sheet (as worked, before the 3600 °F anneal)", "test": "bend transition temperature" }, "method": "Stated in the abstract of the NASA technical note", "status": "ground", "source": "klopp-tnd3483", "where": "Abstract, transition temperatures for the arc-melted 26-percent-rhenium alloy", "source_detail": { "title": "Mechanical Properties of Dilute Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys (NASA TN D-3483)", "id": "NASA NTRS 19660027741, accession N66-37031", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660027741/downloads/19660027741.pdf", "year": 1966, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "ductile_brittle_transition_temperature", "label": "Bend transition, arc-melted 26 percent Re after 3600 °F anneal", "value": 350, "bound": "exact", "unit": "°F", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "arc-melted 26-percent-rhenium alloy, recrystallized by anneal at 3600 °F", "test": "bend transition temperature" }, "method": "Stated in the abstract of the NASA technical note", "status": "ground", "source": "klopp-tnd3483", "where": "Abstract, 24- and 26-percent-rhenium alloys after the 3600 °F anneal", "source_detail": { "title": "Mechanical Properties of Dilute Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys (NASA TN D-3483)", "id": "NASA NTRS 19660027741, accession N66-37031", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660027741/downloads/19660027741.pdf", "year": 1966, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, unalloyed tungsten column (comparison)", "value": 19.3, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "tungsten column of the same table, no temperature stated; comparison only" }, "method": "Printed in the mechanical and physical properties table of the Concept Alloys data sheet", "status": "ground", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties table, row Density, column Tungsten (page 2 of 2)", "source_detail": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "atomic_weight", "label": "Atomic weight of tungsten (matrix element)", "value": 183.84, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/mol", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "relative atomic mass of the element as printed" }, "method": "Relative atomic mass line on the WebElements tungsten page", "status": "ground", "source": "webel-w", "where": "Tungsten - 74W: the essentials, relative atomic mass", "source_detail": { "title": "WebElements: Tungsten, key properties", "id": "WebElements, tungsten main page", "url": "https://www.webelements.com/tungsten/", "kind": "database", "license": "WebElements terms of use (cited, not reproduced)" } }, { "benchmark": "atomic_weight", "label": "Atomic weight of rhenium (alloying element)", "value": 186.207, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/mol", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "relative atomic mass of the element as printed, with uncertainty (1) not shown here" }, "method": "Relative atomic mass line on the WebElements rhenium page", "status": "ground", "source": "webel-re", "where": "Rhenium - 75Re: the essentials, relative atomic mass", "source_detail": { "title": "WebElements: Rhenium, key properties", "id": "WebElements, rhenium main page", "url": "https://www.webelements.com/rhenium/", "kind": "database", "license": "WebElements terms of use (cited, not reproduced)" } } ], "corrosion": [ { "environment": "Oxidising atmosphere at high temperature (air)", "headline": "Rapid oxidation at high temperature; not recommended for oxidising environments.", "effect": "The Concept Alloys data sheet says both W-Re combinations are susceptible to rapid oxidation at high temperatures and are not recommended for use in oxidising environments.", "rating": "severe", "conditions": { "basis": "qualitative data sheet statement; no temperature, pressure or time given" }, "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Introduction paragraph of the data sheet" }, { "environment": "Reducing or inert atmosphere and vacuum at high temperature", "headline": "Very stable at high temperature in reducing or inert atmospheres and vacuum.", "effect": "The data sheet says the alloy combinations are very stable at high temperatures in reducing or inert atmospheres such as hydrogen, inert gases and vacuum.", "rating": "low", "conditions": { "basis": "qualitative statement; no temperature given" }, "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Introduction paragraph of the data sheet" }, { "environment": "Supplier description of oxidation resistance (no atmosphere or grade stated)", "headline": "Supplier claims oxidation resistance, which conflicts with the data sheet warning.", "effect": "Goodfellow describes tungsten-rhenium as having excellent thermal stability, oxidation resistance and mechanical robustness, with service up to 2500 °C. The page gives no atmosphere, temperature or grade, so it is not used to rate corrosion.", "rating": "unknown", "conditions": { "basis": "general product description; no atmosphere, temperature or grade stated" }, "source": "goodfellow-wre", "where": "Applications and Advantages section, and introductory paragraph" } ], "risks": { "hazards": [ { "text": "Rhenium metal safety data sheet (Angstrom Sciences, revised 2015) gives the signal word Warning and H228, flammable solid. It states that the metal is hazardous as a powder only.", "ghs": [ "H228" ], "source": "angstrom-re-sds", "where": "Section 2, Hazard Statements; transport section, Hazardous as powder only" }, { "text": "Tungsten powder 99.9 percent safety data sheet (Fujifilm Wako) gives the signal word Warning, H320 (causes eye irritation) and H335 (may cause respiratory irritation).", "ghs": [ "H320", "H335" ], "source": "wako-w-sds", "where": "Section 2, Hazard statements" }, { "text": "Tungsten safety data sheet (Stanford Advanced Materials, revised 2012): tungsten powder may present a fire or explosion hazard under favoring conditions of particle size, dispersion and strong ignition source. Most studies show tungsten to be toxicologically inert, but dust can irritate the nose, throat, skin and eyes.", "ghs": [], "source": "sam-w-msds", "where": "Section IV, Fire and explosion hazard data; Section VI, Health hazard data" } ], "failure_risks": [ { "mode": "Brittle fracture of cold parts", "trigger": "Bending or handling below the bend transition temperature", "consequence": "NASA TN D-3483 gives a bend transition of -150 °F for arc-melted 26 percent rhenium worked sheet, against 215 °F for unalloyed arc-melted tungsten sheet. NASA TN D-4567 gives 350 K for 25 percent rhenium and 490 K for unalloyed recrystallized tungsten.", "severity": "moderate", "source": "klopp-tnd3483", "where": "Abstract, bend transition temperatures" }, { "mode": "Oxidation at high temperature", "trigger": "Exposure to air or another oxidising gas at high temperature", "consequence": "The alloys oxidise rapidly and the data sheet does not recommend them in oxidising environments.", "severity": "high", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Introduction paragraph of the data sheet" }, { "mode": "Powder fire", "trigger": "Fine powder dispersed in air near an ignition source", "consequence": "Rhenium powder is classed as a flammable solid (H228). Tungsten powder may present a fire or explosion hazard under favoring conditions of particle size and dispersion.", "severity": "moderate", "source": "angstrom-re-sds", "where": "Section 2, H228" } ], "side_effects": [], "handling": [ { "text": "Use the alloys at high temperature only in reducing, inert or vacuum conditions. The data sheet says they are very stable there and not recommended in oxidising environments.", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Introduction paragraph of the data sheet" }, { "text": "Keep powder away from strong oxidisers and acids. Contact with acids may generate flammable hydrogen gas, and the SDS lists strong oxidisers as incompatible.", "source": "sam-w-msds", "where": "Section V, Reactivity data" }, { "text": "Keep dust from accumulating and keep ignition sources away from it, as tungsten powder may present a fire or explosion hazard.", "source": "sam-w-msds", "where": "Section IV, Fire and explosion hazard data" } ], "mitigations": [ { "text": "The data sheet says wrought W5Re and W26Re are shipped in a stabilised condition and keep good room-temperature ductility after heating above 3000 °F. It limits use to 3000 °F or lower to keep that ductility.", "source": "concept-wre-ds", "where": "Introduction paragraph of the data sheet" } ] }, "uses": [ { "application": "thermal-control", "device": "Insulated W+26Re and W+5Re/W+26Re thermocouples in a UO2-fuelled reactor", "example": "AEC-NASA Tech Brief 68-10109 says these tungsten-rhenium thermocouples are effective for temperature measurement in excess of 2920 °C. A pure tungsten leg was found too brittle, so a W+5Re leg was used instead.", "source": "nasa-tb-68-10109", "where": "Brief 68-10109, The solution and How it's done sections" }, { "application": "thermal-control", "device": "Gas-temperature probe with a tungsten-26 percent rhenium plug and tungsten-5 percent rhenium probe", "example": "NASA Tech Brief 66-10134 describes a probe for measuring a flowing gas up to 4500 °F in a hazardous radiation environment, built from tungsten-26 percent rhenium and tungsten-5 percent rhenium wire insulated with beryllia.", "source": "nasa-tb-66-10134", "where": "Brief 66-10134, description of the probe" }, { "application": "structures", "device": "Thermionic converter cathode tube in a nuclear space powerplant design study (not flown)", "example": "A Pratt and Whitney design study for an in-pile nuclear thermionic space powerplant considers W-25Re superior to tungsten for the cathode tube, because tungsten has a brittle-ductile transition of 400 to 600 °F that makes it hard to fabricate. The scanned text says W-25Re has room-temperature ductility, but its compatibility with the fuel needs documentation.", "source": "pw-thermionic-1965", "where": "Refractory materials discussion, cathode tube section (OCR scan)" }, { "application": "electronics-and-chips", "device": "Focal track of a rotating X-ray anode", "example": "Plansee says its rotating anodes use molybdenum-alloy bodies (TZM, MHC or MoNb) with focal tracks made of various tungsten-rhenium alloys. The page does not give a rhenium percentage.", "source": "plansee-xray", "where": "Rotating anodes, focal track material" } ], "supply": [ { "subject": "Tungsten (mine production shares computed from USGS 2025 tonnes of contained W, world total 85,000 t)", "abundance": "Crustal abundance not read in the USGS tungsten summary (see gaps).", "producers": [ { "country": "China", "share_percent": 78.8, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Vietnam", "share_percent": 3.5, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Kazakhstan", "share_percent": 2.8, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Russia", "share_percent": 2.4, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Bolivia", "share_percent": 2, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Australia", "share_percent": 1.2, "year": 2025 } ], "critical_lists": [], "recycling": "The USGS withholds the 2025 secondary tungsten quantity to avoid disclosing company data, so the recycling share is not given.", "substitutes": [], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-tungsten", "where": "World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025 column (shares computed by Space Mushroom against the 85,000 t world total)" }, { "subject": "Rhenium (mine production shares computed from USGS 2025 kilograms of contained rhenium, world total 81,000 kg)", "abundance": "Crustal abundance not read (see gaps).", "producers": [ { "country": "Chile", "share_percent": 37, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "China", "share_percent": 24.7, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Poland", "share_percent": 12.3, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "United States", "share_percent": 12.1, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Uzbekistan", "share_percent": 8.6, "year": 2025 } ], "critical_lists": [ { "list": "USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals (rhenium added in the 2025 list)", "listed": true } ], "recycling": "Nickel-base superalloy scrap, scrapped turbine parts and spent catalysts are recycled. Industry sources estimated 2025 global secondary production at 20,000 to 25,000 kg (USGS).", "substitutes": [ "USGS: cobalt and tungsten for coatings on copper X-ray targets; rhodium and rhodium-iridium for high-temperature thermocouples; tungsten and tantalum for electron emitters." ], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-rhenium", "where": "World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025 column; Recycling; Substitutes" } ], "media": [], "documents": [ { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009 }, { "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rhenium", "type": "report", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-rhenium.pdf", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten", "type": "report", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-tungsten.pdf", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "NASA TN D-4567: Yielding and Fracture in Tungsten and Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys (Raffo)", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19680015005/downloads/19680015005.pdf", "year": 1968 }, { "title": "NASA TN D-3483: Mechanical Properties of Dilute Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660027741/downloads/19660027741.pdf", "year": 1966 }, { "title": "AEC-NASA Tech Brief 68-10109: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloy Thermocouples Effective for High-Temperature Measurement", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19680000109/downloads/19680000109.pdf", "year": 1968 }, { "title": "NASA Tech Brief 66-10134: tungsten-rhenium gas-temperature probe", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660000133/downloads/19660000133.pdf", "year": 1966 }, { "title": "Pratt and Whitney: design study of an in-pile nuclear thermionic space powerplant (NASA, Volume I)", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19650001440/downloads/19650001440.pdf", "year": 1965 }, { "title": "Angstrom Sciences: Rhenium safety data sheet (rev. 07/01/15)", "type": "sds", "url": "https://angstromsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/files/SDS/Rhenium.pdf", "year": 2015 }, { "title": "Fujifilm Wako: Tungsten, powder 99.9 percent safety data sheet", "type": "sds", "url": "https://labchem-wako.fujifilm.com/sds/W01W0120-0344JGHEEN.pdf" }, { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials: Tungsten material safety data sheet (v2.0, rev. Sep 5, 2012)", "type": "sds", "url": "https://www.sputtertargets.net/Public/pdf/tungsten-msds.pdf", "year": 2012 }, { "title": "WebElements: Tungsten, key properties", "type": "database", "url": "https://www.webelements.com/tungsten/" }, { "title": "WebElements: Rhenium, key properties", "type": "database", "url": "https://www.webelements.com/rhenium/" } ], "gaps": [ "Thermal expansion of W25/26Re (2.9 x 10-6 in/in/°F at 68 °F, Concept Alloys data sheet) was removed: the value did not match the printed text when verify-values checked it, so it is not used until the table row is checked by hand.", "No tungsten-rhenium grade in the set has a standard designation read in this run. ASTM E230 temperature tables and the IEC 60584 type C and D pairs are named by the data sheet, but no UNS, EN, AISI or ASTM grade code for W-Re was printed on a page we read, so identity.designations is empty.", "PubChem GHS records for rhenium and tungsten could not be read (the site returned a browser verification page), so the PubChem hazard data used for tungsten in the tungsten profile were not repeated here. Hazards rest on three SDSs and the Angstrom rhenium SDS.", "Springer 2021 paper on additively manufactured W-Re (relative density up to 97.6 percent for W-25Re) redirected to a login page and was not read.", "Stanford Advanced Materials powder page gives a melting point of 3350 °C for W-5Re powder; it was seen only in a search snippet and is not used.", "Thermocouple EMF tables (ASTM E230, IEC 60584-1) were not read, so no EMF value is given. The Goodfellow thin-film thermocouple figure (165.5 uV/°C at 700 °C) is a thin-film device, not a bulk alloy, and is not used.", "Goodfellow gives thermal conductivity 130 to 180 W/m K at room temperature for the W-Re system without naming a grade, so it is not used as a property.", "Crustal abundance of tungsten and rhenium was not read in a source we could open.", "Whether tungsten is on the USGS 2025 critical minerals list was not stated in the USGS tungsten summary. Neither metal was checked against the EU critical raw materials list.", "Secondary tungsten quantity for 2025 is withheld in the USGS summary, so tungsten recycling share is not given.", "Corrosion in acids and aqueous media for W-Re has no source we read; only the qualitative oxidation statements above were found.", "The Goodfellow page says W-Re oxidation resistance is excellent; the Concept Alloys data sheet says rapid oxidation. The conflict is recorded in corrosion and not resolved.", "The alloy composition by weight is inferred from the grade names, which the NASA reports use (26 percent rhenium alloy, 25 percent rhenium alloy). No source we read defines the grade by weight or atomic percent in one line.", "The Pratt and Whitney scan is OCR text and the cathode-tube statement comes from the scanned report; no flight or space-environment use of W-Re was found.", "The Plansee page gives no rhenium percentage for focal-track alloys.", "The Concept Alloys data sheet is dated rev. 10-19-09 and gives no test standard for density or tensile values beyond the note that its products conform to ASTM E696 and ASTM E988.", "The ductile-brittle transition temperature has no canonical property name in spores/property-canon.yaml; it is entered as ductile_brittle_transition_temperature and needs a canonical name before import." ], "story": { "why": "Tungsten-rhenium alloys keep most of tungsten's high melting point and density while gaining the ductility that pure tungsten lacks at low temperature. NASA found that dilute rhenium additions lower the ductile-brittle transition of tungsten, and the data sheet says the W5Re and W26Re thermoelements keep good room-temperature ductility after heating above 3000 °F. That makes them usable as thermocouple legs, as X-ray target tracks and as cathode tubes in nuclear-space design studies.", "uses": [ { "where": "Thermocouples for very high temperatures", "line": "NASA Tech Brief 68-10109 reports W-Re thermocouples effective for measurement above 2920 °C, using a W+5Re leg because pure tungsten was too brittle." }, { "where": "Gas-temperature probes", "line": "NASA Tech Brief 66-10134 describes a W-Re probe for a flowing gas at up to 4500 °F in a hazardous radiation environment." }, { "where": "Nuclear-space design study", "line": "A Pratt and Whitney design study for an in-pile nuclear thermionic space powerplant considered W-25Re for the cathode tube. It was not flown." }, { "where": "Rotating X-ray anodes", "line": "Plansee says its rotating anodes have focal tracks of tungsten-rhenium alloys on molybdenum-alloy bodies. The page gives no rhenium percentage." } ], "can_do": [ { "label": "Melting point", "line": "The Concept Alloys data sheet gives 3350 °C for W5Re and 3120 °C for the W25/26Re column.", "benchmark": "melting_point", "scope": "material", "value": "3350 °C" }, { "label": "Density", "line": "The data sheet gives 19.4 g/cm3 for W5Re and 19.7 g/cm3 for W25/26Re, against 19.3 g/cm3 for unalloyed tungsten in the same table.", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material", "value": "19.4 g/cm3" }, { "label": "Tensile strength at room temperature", "line": "Annealed W5Re gives 220 x 10^3 psi at 68 °F and 26 x 10^3 psi at 3632 °F, according to the data sheet.", "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "scope": "material", "value": "220 x 10^3 psi" }, { "label": "Ductile-brittle transition", "line": "NASA TN D-4567 gives 350 K for arc-melted W-25Re against 490 K for unalloyed recrystallized tungsten.", "benchmark": "ductile_brittle_transition_temperature", "scope": "material", "value": "350 K" } ], "compare": "Among the refractory metals, W-Re has a melting point near that of pure tungsten but better low-temperature ductility. The data sheet gives 3350 °C for W5Re and 3120 °C for the W25/26Re column, and densities of 19.4 and 19.7 g/cm3. The compare rows name the properties to set against other refractory metals; the values above are the only W-Re figures read in this run.", "compare_rows": [ { "label": "Melting point", "benchmark": "melting_point", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Density", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Tensile strength", "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength", "scope": "material" } ], "handling": [ "Use it at high temperature only in reducing, inert or vacuum conditions. Oxidation in air is rapid, according to the data sheet.", "Keep powder away from strong oxidisers and acids. Acids can release flammable hydrogen from tungsten powder.", "Keep dust from building up, and keep ignition sources away from it." ], "good_for": [ "Thermocouples for very high temperatures, where the W-5Re against W-26Re pair has the widest industry acceptance.", "Rotating X-ray anode focal tracks, which need a dense, high-melting surface." ], "watch_out": [ "Rapid oxidation at high temperature. The data sheet does not recommend these alloys in oxidising environments.", "Brittle when cold below the transition temperature. Pure tungsten is brittle, and W-Re alloys reduce but do not remove this.", "Rhenium is expensive and supply is concentrated: about 37 percent of 2025 world mine output came from Chile, and the rhenium price rose sharply in 2025 (USGS)." ], "verdict": "W-Re is the choice for very high-temperature thermocouples and X-ray tracks where tungsten alone is too brittle and the atmosphere is controlled. Its melting point and density are well documented; its oxidation limits and corrosion in acids are not, so it needs a controlled atmosphere in any design.", "recipe": { "line": "W-Re alloys are tungsten with rhenium added. The grade number is the rhenium content in the name (NASA reports describe a 26 percent rhenium alloy and a 25 percent rhenium alloy). Tungsten has an atomic weight of 183.84 and rhenium 186.207 (WebElements).", "parts": [ { "name": "Tungsten", "symbol": "W", "role": "The matrix of the alloy. Tungsten gives the high melting point, and rhenium makes the metal more ductile at low temperature." }, { "name": "Rhenium", "symbol": "Re", "role": "The alloying addition, typically 3 to 26 percent in the grades in the data sheet. It lowers the ductile-brittle transition and improves ductility after recrystallization." } ] }, "risk_groups": [ { "title": "For people", "lead": "The bulk metal has few notified hazards. Fine powder of the component metals does carry fire and irritation hazards.", "points": [ { "label": "Rhenium powder", "line": "The Angstrom Sciences rhenium SDS classes the metal as a flammable solid (H228) and says it is hazardous as a powder only." }, { "label": "Tungsten powder", "line": "The Fujifilm Wako tungsten powder SDS gives H320 (eye irritation) and H335 (respiratory irritation). The Stanford Advanced Materials SDS says most studies show tungsten to be toxicologically inert, but dust can irritate the nose, throat, skin and eyes." } ], "level": 0, "verdict": "Powder is the hazard" }, { "title": "At high temperature", "lead": "The main hazard in use is oxidation, not toxicity.", "points": [ { "label": "In air", "line": "The Concept Alloys data sheet says both W-Re combinations oxidise rapidly at high temperature and are not recommended for oxidising environments." } ] } ] }, "updated": "2026-10-26", "review": { "status": "draft", "method": "assistant", "checked_values": 19, "unreachable": 4, "caveats": 4, "note": "Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26: 20 property values read from the Concept Alloys data sheet, two NASA technical notes, and WebElements; tech briefs and USGS used for uses and supply. Springer 2021 paper and PubChem records could not be opened, and the Goodfellow and Plansee pages were read for qualitative statements only." }, "sources": { "webel-w": { "title": "WebElements: Tungsten, key properties", "id": "WebElements, tungsten main page", "url": "https://www.webelements.com/tungsten/", "kind": "database", "license": "WebElements terms of use (cited, not reproduced)" }, "webel-re": { "title": "WebElements: Rhenium, key properties", "id": "WebElements, rhenium main page", "url": "https://www.webelements.com/rhenium/", "kind": "database", "license": "WebElements terms of use (cited, not reproduced)" }, "concept-wre-ds": { "title": "Concept Alloys: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys data sheet (rev. 10-19-09)", "id": "Concept Alloys tungsten-rhenium data sheet, hosted by DigiKey", "url": "https://mm.digikey.com/Volume0/opasdata/d220001/medias/docus/213/Tungsten_Rhenium_DS.pdf", "year": 2009, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)" }, "usgs-mcs2026-rhenium": { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rhenium", "id": "USGS MCS 2026, rhenium", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-rhenium.pdf", "year": 2026, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "usgs-mcs2026-tungsten": { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten", "id": "USGS MCS 2026, tungsten", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-tungsten.pdf", "year": 2026, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "raffo-tnd4567": { "title": "Yielding and Fracture in Tungsten and Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys (NASA TN D-4567, Raffo)", "id": "NASA NTRS 19680015005", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19680015005/downloads/19680015005.pdf", "year": 1968, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "klopp-tnd3483": { "title": "Mechanical Properties of Dilute Tungsten-Rhenium Alloys (NASA TN D-3483)", "id": "NASA NTRS 19660027741, accession N66-37031", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660027741/downloads/19660027741.pdf", "year": 1966, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "nasa-tb-68-10109": { "title": "AEC-NASA Tech Brief 68-10109: Tungsten-Rhenium Alloy Thermocouples Effective for High-Temperature Measurement", "id": "NASA NTRS 19680000109, brief 68-10109", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19680000109/downloads/19680000109.pdf", "year": 1968, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "nasa-tb-66-10134": { "title": "NASA Tech Brief 66-10134: tungsten-rhenium gas-temperature probe", "id": "NASA NTRS 19660000133, brief 66-10134", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660000133/downloads/19660000133.pdf", "year": 1966, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "pw-thermionic-1965": { "title": "Design study of a high power in-pile nuclear thermionic space powerplant (Pratt and Whitney, prepared for NASA, Volume I)", "id": "NASA NTRS 19650001440 (OCR scan)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19650001440/downloads/19650001440.pdf", "year": 1965, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "plansee-xray": { "title": "Plansee: Components for generating X-rays", "id": "Plansee product page", "url": "https://plansee.com/en/products/components-for-generating-x-rays.html", "kind": "web", "license": "supplier web page (cited, not reproduced)" }, "goodfellow-wre": { "title": "Goodfellow: Tungsten/Rhenium alloy material information", "id": "Goodfellow product information page", "url": "https://www.goodfellow.com/usa/resources/tungsten-rhenium-alloy-material-information/", "kind": "web", "license": "supplier web page (cited, not reproduced)" }, "angstrom-re-sds": { "title": "Angstrom Sciences: Rhenium safety data sheet", "id": "CAS 7440-15-5; revision 07/01/15", "url": "https://angstromsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/files/SDS/Rhenium.pdf", "year": 2015, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document (cited, not reproduced)" }, "wako-w-sds": { "title": "Fujifilm Wako: Tungsten, powder 99.9 percent safety data sheet", "id": "W01W0120-0344 JGHEEN", "url": "https://labchem-wako.fujifilm.com/sds/W01W0120-0344JGHEEN.pdf", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document (cited, not reproduced)" }, "sam-w-msds": { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials: Tungsten material safety data sheet", "id": "SAM tungsten MSDS v2.0, revised 2012-09-05", "url": "https://www.sputtertargets.net/Public/pdf/tungsten-msds.pdf", "year": 2012, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document (cited, not reproduced)" } }, "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/tungsten-rhenium/" }