RHENIUM CAS 7440-15-5

70% of global rhenium production is used to manufacture superalloy components for jet engines. Another major application of rhenium is in platinum-rhenium catalysts that can be used to produce lead-free, high-octane gasoline.
alloy
The addition of rhenium increases the creep strength of nickel superalloys. Rhenium alloys generally contain 3% to 6% rhenium. The second-generation alloy has a 3% rufum content and was used in the engines of F-16 and F-15 fighters. The third generation of monocrystalline alloys has a 6% rhenium content and has been used in F-22 and F-35 engines. Rhenium superalloys are also used in industrial gas turbines. Superalloys form a topological packed phase (TCP) after rhenium is added, so their microstructure becomes unstable. Fourth and fifth generation superalloys use ruthenium to avoid this phenomenon.
In 2006, rhenium consumption was 28% for General Electric, 28% for Rolls-Royce AG and 12% for Pratt & Whitney, all for the production of superalloys. Another 14% is used as catalysts and 18% for other purposes. As demand for military jet engines continues to increase, it is necessary to develop superalloys with lower rhenium content to maintain supply. For example, the new CFM56 high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades use an alloy containing 1.5% rhenium to replace an alloy with a 3% rhenium content.
Rhenium enhances the physical properties of tungsten. Tungsten-rhenium alloy is more malleable at low temperatures, easy to manufacture, shape, and stable at high temperatures. This change increases with the content of rhenium, so the tungsten-rhenium alloy contains 27% rhenium, which is the limit of the dissolution of rhenium in tungsten. X-ray sources are one of the applications of tungsten-rhenium alloys. Both tungsten and rhenium have a high melting point and atomic weight, helping to resist constant electron impacts. This alloy is also used as a thermocouple and can measure temperatures up to 2200 °C.
Rhenium is very stable at high temperatures, low vapor pressure, wear resistance, and can resist arc corrosion, so it is a good automatic cleaning of electric contact materials. The electric spark during the switch can oxidize and wear out the contacts. But, rhenium heptaoxide (Re2O7) sublimates at around 360°C, so it is removed during discharge.
Rhenium, like tantalum and tungsten, has a high melting point and low vapor pressure, so filaments made of these materials are more stable under oxygen. This type of filament is used in mass spectrometers, ionization pressure gauges and photographic flash lamps.
catalyst
Rhenium-platinum alloys are a catalyst catalytic reforming. This petroleum process increases the octane value of naphtha. Of the catalysts used for catalytic reforming, 30% contain rhenium. Coating the surface of alumina (alumina) with rhenium can be used as a catalyst for the re-decomposition of olefins. Rhenium-containing catalysts are resistant to catalyst poisoning by nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus, so they are used in certain hydrogenation reactions. [4]