Tungsten rhenium is a solid solution strengthened alloy composed of tungsten element and rhenium element. The commonly used rhenium content (mass fraction, %) in alloys is 3, 5, 10, 25 and 26. It is divided into low content W-Re alloy (Re≤5%) and high content W-Re alloy (Re≥15%). The main processing materials of tungsten rhenium are wire and sheet. Wire accounts for the vast majority. Mainly used as high temperature structural material.

Tungsten rhenium has better mechanical properties and ductility than pure tungsten, and high resistivity, so it has better processability and weldability. Tungsten rhenium containing 3% rhenium can be used as the core metal of electron tube filaments, grid wires and direct-heated cathodes. The thorium-containing tungsten rhenium, that is, thorium tungsten rhenium, is used as a direct-heated cathode of a large-scale emission tube. Its performance is better than that of a thorium tungsten cathode, and it is not easily deformed at high temperatures.

Tungsten rhenium waste is mainly tungsten rhenium, which also includes molybdenum rhenium alloys. There are two methods for recovering rhenium from waste tungsten rhenium: oxidation bloom method and saltpeter melting decomposition-ion exchange method.

There are two types of tungsten rhenium, powder metallurgy method and smelting method, and the powder metallurgy method occupies a dominant position in actual production. Isostatic pressing and intermediate frequency induction heating sintering can obtain high-quality alloy billets with the best uniformity and consistency.