Refractory Metal W-3Re
ASTM B387 Grade WRe3
W-3Re is tungsten alloyed with 3 % rhenium (ASTM B387 Grade WRe3), the rhenium addition improving ductility and recrystallization resistance versus unalloyed tungsten.
Reference datasheet — W-3Re is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
W-3Re tempers and conditions
W-3Re is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-sintered PM blank (pre-working) | Pressed-and-sintered ingot/blank for onward hot working or EDM — lower density and strength, not a finished engineering condition. | 400 | 450 | 0.5 | 34 HRC | 15 % IACS |
Recrystallized / fully annealed | Condition after service or annealing above ~1500 °C — dimensionally stable at very high temperature but brittle at room temperature. | 550 | 800 | 2 | 41 HRC | 125 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways W-3Re is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CR-Sheet | Rolled sheet / foil, stress relieved | Supply form |
CW-WireDefault | As-drawn wire | Supply form |
SR-Rod | Swaged rod/bar, stress relieved | Supply form |
What is W-3Re?
W-3Re is tungsten alloyed with 3 % rhenium (ASTM B387 Grade WRe3), the rhenium addition improving ductility and recrystallization resistance versus unalloyed tungsten. It is drawn to wire and rolled to sheet for the positive leg of Type C thermocouples paired with W-25Re, furnace elements and electron-tube parts, with 1750 MPa yield, 2100 MPa tensile, 53 HRC, 118 W/m·K and 17.8 % IACS. Elongation is only 3 % and formability (15) and machinability (8) are very low; the listed service ceiling is 1500 °C and air use above 500 °C needs an oxidation coating. W-5Re offers more ductility for the same thermocouple duty. W-3Re has a density of 19.4 g/cm³ (0.701 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 3,400°C (6,152 °F). W-3Re has a yield strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — stronger than 99% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 395 GPa (57.3 Msi).
What is W-3Re used for?
- thermocouple wire (positive leg)
- high-temperature furnace elements
- electron tube components
Advantages
- High strength — 1,750 MPa (254 ksi), better than 99% of refractory metal grades
- Stiff — 395 GPa (57.3 Msi), better than 94% of refractory metal grades
- High service temperature — 2,000°C (3,632 °F), better than 91% of refractory metal grades
- Conducts heat well — 120 W/m·K (69.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of refractory metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 18 % IACS, better than 78% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 19.4 g/cm³ (0.701 lb/in³), worse than 94% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 10/100, worse than 89% of refractory metal grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 88% of refractory metal grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 84% of refractory metal grades
- Low fracture toughness — 13 MPa·√m (11.8 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of refractory metal grades
W-3Re properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
W-3Re has a density of 19.4 g/cm³ (0.701 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 3,400°C (6,152 °F).
Mechanical15
W-3Re has a yield strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — stronger than 99% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 395 GPa (57.3 Msi).
Thermal5
W-3Re is rated for continuous service to 2,000°C (3,632 °F). It conducts heat at 120 W/m·K (69.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
W-3Re conducts electricity at 18 % IACS, better than 78% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), worse than 58% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W-3Re takes about 480 MJ of energy and emits 33 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
W-3Re's machinability is not recommended (10/100, worse than 89% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the refractory metal family
Yield strength against density for every refractory metal grade FabDigit runs. W-3Re is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with W-3Re
Is W-3Re easy to machine?
Treat as a grinding/EDM material — diamond or CBN wheels, wire/sinker EDM for features; if turning, use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide at low speed and preheat 200–400 °C to avoid chipping.
Can W-3Re be welded?
Electron-beam or laser welding in vacuum only; the fusion and heat-affected zones recrystallize and become brittle, so joints are better made by vacuum brazing (Ni, Pd-Ni, Zr-Nb fillers) or mechanical/crimped connections.
Can W-3Re be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by powder metallurgy then hot swaging, rolling and wire drawing above roughly 1200 °C with progressive temperature reduction; room-temperature bending of anything but thin foil or fine wire will crack.
W-3Re 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolid-solution ductilizer | 2.5 – 3.5 | 3 |
| Moimpurity | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Feimpurity | ≤ 0 | |
| Niimpurity | ≤ 0 | |
| Cimpurity | ≤ 0 | |
| Oimpurity | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Siimpurity | ≤ 0 | |
| Alimpurity | ≤ 0 | |
| Wbalance, ≥96.4 % typical purity basis 99.95 % W+Re | balance |
What surface finishes work on W-3Re?
Chemically clean or electropolish; oxidation protection above 500 °C requires silicide, iridium or platinum coatings, otherwise operate in vacuum, hydrogen or inert gas.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Refractory Metal W-3Re in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B387 Grade WRe3
- Also called
- W3Re
How much does W-3Re cost?
W-3Re is a high-cost refractory metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
W-3Re — frequently asked
What is W-3Re used for?
W-3Re is typically used for thermocouple wire (positive leg), high-temperature furnace elements and electron tube components. In short: more ductile than pure tungsten; type C thermocouple positive leg; grinding and EDM material.
What is the yield strength of W-3Re?
W-3Re has a typical yield strength of 1,750 MPa (254 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,100 MPa (305 ksi) — stronger than 99% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is W-3Re easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (10/100, worse than 89% of refractory metal grades). Treat as a grinding/EDM material — diamond or CBN wheels, wire/sinker EDM for features; if turning, use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide at low speed and preheat 200–400 °C to avoid chipping.
Can W-3Re be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Electron-beam or laser welding in vacuum only; the fusion and heat-affected zones recrystallize and become brittle, so joints are better made by vacuum brazing (Ni, Pd-Ni, Zr-Nb fillers) or mechanical/crimped connections.
What surface finishes work on W-3Re?
Chemically clean or electropolish; oxidation protection above 500 °C requires silicide, iridium or platinum coatings, otherwise operate in vacuum, hydrogen or inert gas.
Can W-3Re be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by powder metallurgy then hot swaging, rolling and wire drawing above roughly 1200 °C with progressive temperature reduction; room-temperature bending of anything but thin foil or fine wire will crack.
What is the maximum service temperature of W-3Re?
W-3Re 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.
How much does W-3Re cost?
W-3Re is a high-cost refractory metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B760 — Tungsten Plate, Sheet and Foil — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM E230/E230M — Temperature-EMF Tables for Standardized Thermocouples (W/Re types) — ASTM International (2023)
- Tungsten-Rhenium Alloy Wire and Rod Data — Rhenium Alloys / Plansee (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Refractory Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Refractory Metals and Alloys — ASM International (1998)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.