The application of rhenium is mainly concentrated in high-tech fields such as aerospace, petrochemicals, and electronics industry. The following are its core application areas and specific manifestations:
1、 Aerospace field
1. Core components of aircraft engines
Turbine blades: Nickel based high-temperature alloy with 3% -6% rhenium added to enhance creep resistance and high-temperature strength, withstand extreme environments above 1100 ℃, and extend lifespan to thousands of hours.
Combustion chamber/nozzle: Rhenium tungsten alloy is used for rocket engine nozzles and can withstand high temperatures of 2800 ℃.
2. Aerospace high-temperature components
Satellite high-temperature resistant shell, spacecraft thermal shielding layer, and arc discharge components, utilizing their melting point of 3180 ℃.
2、 Petrochemical industry
Catalytic reforming core catalyst
Platinum rhenium catalyst: improves the octane rating of straight run gasoline, produces aromatic hydrocarbons as a byproduct, and is used in large refineries of Sinopec and PetroChina.
Hydrorefining: Rhenium based catalysts remove sulfur and nitrogen impurities from oil products, with strong resistance to poisoning.
3、 Electronics and Semiconductor Industry
1. High temperature electronic devices
Rhenium tungsten thermocouple: temperature measurement range up to 2800 ℃, used in nuclear power plants and aerospace launch sites.
Electrode and target material: Tungsten alloy containing 5% rhenium is used for X-ray target material and ion implantation equipment components.
2. Chip packaging
Rhenium metal layer is used as a heat dissipation material to enhance the reliability of 5G chips and automotive chips.
4、 Nuclear Energy and Special Industries
1. Nuclear reactor components
Control rod materials and pressure vessel alloys are resistant to strong radiation and high-temperature corrosion.
2. Ultra heat-resistant alloy
Industrial gas turbine blades, die-casting mold steel.
Trend tip: Rhenium is rapidly expanding its applications in emerging fields such as hydrogen storage and transportation, and fourth generation nuclear reactors.
