Hobbies And Interests
Acquisition
Very little rhenium is obtained every year. It is mainly acquired as a byproduct of processing a certain type of copper.
Geography
Chile is the main producer of rhenium. Other countries producing rhenium include Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, the United States, Canada, Peru and Mexico.
Heat Resistance
Rhenium has a high melting temperature, at 5767 degrees F. Thermocouples made of rhenium are used for measuring temperatures up to 3992 degrees F. Rhenium also is used to make high-temperature alloys, or mixtures of metals, for jet engine parts.
Other Purposes
Manufacturers incorporate rhenium into filaments for ion gauges and mass spectrographs, and in electromagnets, semiconductors, temperature controls and flash lamps for photography.
Price
Because rhenium is such a rare metal, it is expensive. As of April 2009, rhenium was selling for $3,750 per pound.