Refractory Metal W-5Re-AD (As-drawn / cold-worked wire)
Supply condition · default condition
ASTM B387 Grade WRe5
Standard supply condition for Type C thermocouple legs and furnace heater/support wire — maximum strength, minimum handling breakage.
Values for the AD condition
Other W-5Re tempers and conditions
W-5Re is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at W-5Re.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recrystallized / fully annealed | Use when maximum thermo-EMF stability and creep resistance at 2000 °C+ matter more than room-temperature toughness; the alloy is notch-sensitive in this state. | 600 | 850 | 8 | 44 HRC | 16 % IACS |
Stress relieved | Choose when coiled or wound parts must hold shape and stay dimensionally stable without losing the worked fibre structure. | 1,250 | 1,500 | 5 | 51 HRC | 15.4 % IACS |
ADDefaultThis page As-drawn / cold-worked wire | Standard supply condition for Type C thermocouple legs and furnace heater/support wire — maximum strength, minimum handling breakage. | 1,700 | 1,900 | 3 | 56 HRC | 15 % IACS |
What is W-5Re-AD?
W-5Re-AD is W-5Re supplied in the AD condition — standard supply condition for Type C thermocouple legs and furnace heater/support wire — maximum strength, minimum handling breakage. W-5Re-AD has a yield strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) — stronger than 97% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi). W-5Re-AD has a density of 19.4 g/cm³ (0.701 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 3,350°C (6,062 °F).
Advantages
- High strength — 1,700 MPa (247 ksi), better than 97% of refractory metal grades
- Stiff — 400 GPa (58 Msi), better than 96% of refractory metal grades
- High service temperature — 2,300°C (4,172 °F), better than 96% of refractory metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 15 % IACS, better than 75% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 19.4 g/cm³ (0.701 lb/in³), worse than 94% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 8/100, worse than 92% of refractory metal grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 88% of refractory metal grades
- Low fracture toughness — 12 MPa·√m (10.9 ksi·√in), worse than 87% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 79% of refractory metal grades
W-5Re-AD properties
Typical room-temperature values for W-5Re-AD; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are W-5Re reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
W-5Re-AD has a density of 19.4 g/cm³ (0.701 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 3,350°C (6,062 °F).
Mechanical16
W-5Re-AD has a yield strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) — stronger than 97% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi).
Thermal6
W-5Re-AD is rated for continuous service to 2,300°C (4,172 °F). It conducts heat at 82 W/m·K (47.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 73% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
W-5Re-AD conducts electricity at 15 % IACS, better than 75% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 72% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of W-5Re-AD takes about 520 MJ of energy and emits 33 kg of CO₂ — less than 68% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
W-5Re-AD's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 92% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with W-5Re-AD
Is W-5Re easy to machine?
Treat as a grinding/EDM material: diamond or CBN wheels, wire EDM for profiles; if turned, use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide, low speed and warm the part to avoid chipping.
Can W-5Re be welded?
Join by electron-beam, laser or resistance welding in vacuum or high-purity argon; the fusion zone recrystallizes and becomes brittle, so keep welds out of bending zones and avoid any carbon/oxygen pickup.
Can W-5Re be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (press–sinter) then hot/warm swaging, rolling and drawing above ~1000 °C; cold forming at room temperature is limited to gentle bends in fine wire (bend radius ≥ 5–10 d).
What surface finishes work on W-5Re?
Supplied electrochemically cleaned or chemically etched; no anodizing possible — for air service above ~500 °C an oxidation-protective coating (silicide, Ir, or use in vacuum/inert gas) is mandatory.
W-5Re 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 | 4.5 – 5.5 | 5 |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Feresidual | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Niresidual, embrittling | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| C | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| O | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| N | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Wbalance, typically ≥94.9 % | balance | — |
W-5Re-AD — frequently asked
What is W-5Re-AD used for?
W-5Re-AD is typically used for thermocouple wire, vacuum furnace heating elements and lamp filament support wire. In short: thermocouple-grade tungsten alloy; 2300 °C vacuum service; drawable to fine wire.
What is the yield strength of W-5Re-AD?
W-5Re-AD has a typical yield strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,900 MPa (276 ksi) — stronger than 97% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is W-5Re-AD easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 92% of refractory metal grades). Treat as a grinding/EDM material: diamond or CBN wheels, wire EDM for profiles; if turned, use rigid setups, negative-rake carbide, low speed and warm the part to avoid chipping.
Can W-5Re-AD be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Join by electron-beam, laser or resistance welding in vacuum or high-purity argon; the fusion zone recrystallizes and becomes brittle, so keep welds out of bending zones and avoid any carbon/oxygen pickup.
What surface finishes work on W-5Re-AD?
Supplied electrochemically cleaned or chemically etched; no anodizing possible — for air service above ~500 °C an oxidation-protective coating (silicide, Ir, or use in vacuum/inert gas) is mandatory.
Can W-5Re-AD be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (press–sinter) then hot/warm swaging, rolling and drawing above ~1000 °C; cold forming at room temperature is limited to gentle bends in fine wire (bend radius ≥ 5–10 d).
What is the maximum service temperature of W-5Re-AD?
W-5Re-AD is rated for continuous use to about 2,300°C (4,172 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between W-5Re-AD and W-5Re-RX?
AD is the default condition — standard supply condition for Type C thermocouple legs and furnace heater/support wire — maximum strength, minimum handling breakage. RX: use when maximum thermo-EMF stability and creep resistance at 2000 °C+ matter more than room-temperature toughness; the alloy is notch-sensitive in this state. Yield strength is 1,700 MPa in AD versus 600 MPa in RX.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Refractory Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM E230/E230M — Standard Specification and Temperature-EMF Tables for Standardized Thermocouples (Type C/D W-Re) — ASTM (2017)
- Tungsten-rhenium alloy wire and sheet datasheets — Plansee / H.C. Starck / (2023)
- W-Re binary alloy phase diagram and thermophysical property compilations — ASM Alloy Phase Diagram Database (2016)
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.