Assay
At rhenium prices, a fraction of a percent in the assay is real money. Sampling and an agreed umpire laboratory belong in every contract.
Metals · Re · 75
Rhenium
Rhenium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust, and recycling covers a large part of the supply. We trade it at every stage of the value chain and advise the companies that produce and use it.
75ReRhenium186.21
- Atomic number
- 75
- Melting point
- 3186 °C
- Density
- 21.02 g/cm³
Rhenium comes mainly as a by-product of roasting molybdenite concentrates from copper mines. Its largest use is in single-crystal nickel-base superalloys for the hottest turbine blades; the second is platinum-rhenium catalysts for petroleum reforming. Both leave scrap and spent catalysts behind that are worth recovering. Our focus lies on superalloy recycling and on the APR, perrhenic acid and pellets recovered from superalloys. Beyond turbines, rhenium goes into tungsten-rhenium thermocouples for very high temperatures and into rhenium thrust chambers for satellites.
From ore to product
- 01
Roasting
Rhenium volatilises when molybdenite concentrate is roasted and is captured in the off-gas scrubbing.
- 02
Recovery
Ion exchange or solvent extraction recovers rhenium from the scrubbing solution.
- 03
APR
Crystallisation gives ammonium perrhenate (APR), the standard rhenium chemical.
- 04
Metal
Hydrogen reduction of APR gives rhenium powder, pressed and sintered into pellets for alloy makers.
- 05
Recycling
Superalloy scrap and catalysts are leached, and the rhenium is recovered again as APR or perrhenic acid.
What matters in a deal
Alloy identification
Superalloy scrap is sorted by alloy grade, since rhenium content ranges from zero to about six percent.
Questions
Why is so much rhenium recycled?
Rhenium is rare and comes mainly from roasting molybdenite concentrates. Superalloy scrap and spent platinum-rhenium catalysts contain enough of it to make recovery worthwhile.
What is APR?
Ammonium perrhenate, the standard rhenium chemical from which rhenium metal and other compounds are made.
How do I reach Refraxys about material or a project?
Send a short description of your material or your requirement, an analysis if you have one, the quantity and the location to info@refraxys.com, or call us. You speak directly to the person who decides.
Contact
Material to sell, supply to find?
Send us a short description, an analysis if you have one, the quantity and the location. You speak directly to the person who decides.
Dr.-Ing. Ole Brettschneider
Founder & Managing Director