Refractory Metal Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered
Print state
UNS R01010 · ASTM B349
Semi-finished P/M billet for subsequent working; residual porosity lowers strength and ductility.
Values for the Sintered condition
Other Re (Pure Rhenium) tempers and conditions
Re (Pure Rhenium) is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at Re (Pure Rhenium).
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
electron-beam or vacuum arc melted rod (coarse grain) | Highest purity, fully dense stock for sputtering targets, crucibles and electron-emission parts; coarse cast grain lowers strength. | 320 | 1,000 | 20 | 17 HRC | 9.2 % IACS |
AnnealedDefault fully recrystallized sheet, rod and wire (vacuum/H2 anneal ~1700–2000 °C) | Default stocked condition: maximum ductility and formability, still ~1100 MPa tensile because Re does not soften like other refractory metals. | 350 | 1,130 | 24 | 245 HB | 8.9 % IACS |
SinteredThis page pressed and sintered P/M bar/plate (~97–99 % dense) | Semi-finished P/M billet for subsequent working; residual porosity lowers strength and ductility. | 450 | 800 | 8 | 30 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Stress relieved | Best strength/ductility compromise for springs, contacts and formed parts that must keep worked-structure strength. | 1,100 | 1,550 | 12 | 39 HRC | 8.7 % IACS |
Cold worked | Pick for maximum strength and stiffness in thin sheet, foil and electrical contacts where no high-temperature exposure occurs. | 1,900 | 2,100 | 3 | 62 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
What is Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered?
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered is Re (Pure Rhenium) in the Sintered condition — semi-finished P/M billet for subsequent working; residual porosity lowers strength and ductility. Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 69% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 430 GPa (62.4 Msi). Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered has a density of 20.4 g/cm³ (0.737 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 3,186°C (5,767 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Sintered is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 430 GPa (62.4 Msi), better than 99% of refractory metal grades
- High service temperature — 2,000°C (3,632 °F), better than 91% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 20.4 g/cm³ (0.737 lb/in³), worse than 99% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 83% of refractory metal grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 75% of refractory metal grades
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered properties
Typical room-temperature values for Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Re (Pure Rhenium) reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered has a density of 20.4 g/cm³ (0.737 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 3,186°C (5,767 °F).
Mechanical10
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 69% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 430 GPa (62.4 Msi).
Thermal6
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered is rated for continuous service to 2,000°C (3,632 °F). It conducts heat at 45 W/m·K (26 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 56% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 6.2 µm/m·K (3.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, better than 57% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is good (66/100), worse than 63% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered takes about 450 MJ of energy and emits 30 kg of CO₂ — less than 74% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 83% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered
Is Re (Pure Rhenium) easy to machine?
Very difficult — extreme work hardening and galling; use EDM, grinding, or sharp carbide/CBN tools at low speed with heavy rigid setups and flood coolant, and stress-relieve between operations.
Can Re (Pure Rhenium) be welded?
Electron-beam, laser and GTAW in high-purity inert gas give sound joints, but the fusion/HAZ recrystallizes and loses worked strength; avoid contamination by C, O and N.
Can Re (Pure Rhenium) be formed, bent or molded?
Cold rolls and draws well thanks to its high ductility, but the work-hardening rate is the highest of the refractory metals — take small reductions (10–20 %) with vacuum/H2 intermediate anneals at 1700–2000 °C; parts are usually made by P/M, EB melting or CVD rather than casting.
What surface finishes work on Re (Pure Rhenium)?
Not anodizable; use electropolishing or fine mechanical polishing, and apply Ir, Pt or silicide coatings when service above ~600 °C in oxidizing gas is required.
Re (Pure Rhenium) chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Moprincipal residual from Mo-roaster flue-dust source | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| W | ≤ 0.02 | 0 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cu | ≤ 0 | 5×10⁻⁴ |
| Ca | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Kresidual from ammonium/potassium perrhenate processing | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| C | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Opowder; much lower after vacuum sintering or EB melting | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Recommercial purity grades 99.9 % (3N) to 99.99 % (4N), metals basis | ≥ 99.9 (balance) | — |
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered — frequently asked
What is Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered used for?
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered is typically used for thermocouple wire, rocket nozzle liners, vacuum tube filaments, electrical contacts and catalyst carrier alloying. In short: highest work-hardening refractory metal; ductile at cryogenic temperature; thermal-shock resistant to 2200 °C.
What is the yield strength of Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered?
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 800 MPa (116 ksi) — stronger than 69% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 83% of refractory metal grades). Very difficult — extreme work hardening and galling; use EDM, grinding, or sharp carbide/CBN tools at low speed with heavy rigid setups and flood coolant, and stress-relieve between operations.
Can Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Electron-beam, laser and GTAW in high-purity inert gas give sound joints, but the fusion/HAZ recrystallizes and loses worked strength; avoid contamination by C, O and N.
What surface finishes work on Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered?
Not anodizable; use electropolishing or fine mechanical polishing, and apply Ir, Pt or silicide coatings when service above ~600 °C in oxidizing gas is required.
Can Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered be formed, bent or molded?
Cold rolls and draws well thanks to its high ductility, but the work-hardening rate is the highest of the refractory metals — take small reductions (10–20 %) with vacuum/H2 intermediate anneals at 1700–2000 °C; parts are usually made by P/M, EB melting or CVD rather than casting.
What is the maximum service temperature of Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered?
Re (Pure Rhenium) Sintered is rated for continuous use to about 2,000°C (3,632 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Re (Pure Rhenium) Annealed and Re (Pure Rhenium)-CW?
Annealed is the default condition — default stocked condition: maximum ductility and formability, still ~1100 MPa tensile because Re does not soften like other refractory metals. CW: pick for maximum strength and stiffness in thin sheet, foil and electrical contacts where no high-temperature exposure occurs. Yield strength is 350 MPa in Annealed versus 1,900 MPa in CW.
Sources
- ASTM B349/B349M — Rhenium powder and pellets — ASTM International (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Refractory Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics — Properties of the Elements — CRC Press (2022)
- Rhenium sheet, rod, wire and powder property data — Rhenium Alloys Inc. / Plansee (2023)
- CVD rhenium and Ir/Re thruster liner properties — Ultramet (2022)
- Life Cycle Assessment of Metals (cumulative energy demand & GWP) — Nuss & Eckelman, PLoS ONE (2014)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.