Share on: Industries Vision Cases Media Investors Governance Careers Contact Home>Vision>From Ag to Zn>Rhenium Co Cobalt Ni Nickel Cu Copper Zn Zinc Ga Gallium Ge Germanium As Arsenic Se Selenium Ru Ruthenium Rh Rhodium Pd Palladium In Indium Sn Tin Sb Antimony Te Tellurium Ta Tantalum W Tungsten Re Rhenium Ir Iridium Pt Platinum Au Gold Pb Lead Bi Bismuth La Lanthanum Ce Cerium Pr Praseodymium Nd Neodymium Ag Silver Rhenium Rhenium was discovered by the German chemists Ida Tacke-Noddack, Walter Noddack and Otto Carl Berg in 1925. They detected rhenium spectroscopically in platinum ores and in the minerals columbite, gadolinite and molybdenite. In 1928, Noddack and Berg were able to extract 1 gram of rhenium from 660 kilograms of molybdenite. Today, rhenium is obtained as a by-product of refining molybdenum and copper. Its name is derived from Rhenus, the Latin name for the Rhine. Re Rhenium PROPERTIES A metal with a very high melting point, second only to tungsten. Usually available as a grey powder. One of the rarest metals on Earth. APPLICATIONS Filaments for mass spectrographs. Photographic flash lamps. Added to tungsten and molybdenum-based alloys to impart useful properties such as wear resistance. Also used as an electrical contact material as it has good wear resistance and withstands arc corrosion. Rhenium catalysts are exceptionally resistant to poisoning and are used for the hydrogenation of fine chemicals. RECYCLING Rhenium is recovered from applications like super-alloy turbine blades used in the aviation industry. COBALT & SPECIALTY MATERIALS Visit site Business Units Catalysis Automotive Catalysts Precious Metals Chemistry Energy & Surface Technologies Cobalt & Specialty Materials Electro-Optic Materials Electroplating Rechargeable Battery Materials Thin Film Products Follow us Recycling Jewellery & Industrial Metals Platinum Engineered Materials Precious Metals Management Precious Metals Refining Technical Materials Battery Recycling Other Building Products - VMZINC Zinc Chemicals We are global Find us Worldwide Europe Asia Pacific North America South America Africa Legal disclaimer General terms & conditions Sustainable Procurement Charter