Rare rhenium gold from obscurity to the future of development.
Rhenium has not been well known since its inception, although it has gone through decades of research and application.
Before 1950, rhenium was confined to a series of feasibility experiments conducted by relevant researchers in the laboratory, because even now, the process of preparing rhenium was not fully mature, let alone at that time. Therefore, at that time, rhenium was purely an object of research only, and no one had considered its application in other fields; Therefore, the value of rhenium metal has not been valued and improved due to cognitive and application problems at that time. At that time, the discovery of rhenium was also a new thing for the United States.
In 1950, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union began to enter a period of fierce collision in the early stage, and the two superpowers did everything they could in order to improve their national strength, and many of the current technologies were invented in that era: computer technology, global positioning system, aerospace technology, and even refrigerators were all products of that era.
In the 60s of the 20th century, Chevron Inc) and UOP IncRhenium-containing catalysts for petroleum processing were invented, which led to the growth of rhenium demand and production.
In the early 70s of the 20th century, the growth of rhenium demand led to a threefold increase in rhenium.
In the 80s of the 20th century, engine manufacturers discovered that rhenium-containing nickel-based alloys have high temperature resistance and wear resistance, so the service life of engine components made from this alloy will be longer. This discovery by engine manufacturers has led to the development of rhenium metal applications. At the end of the 80s, rhenium-containing jet turbine blades were used for the first time. In 2000, due to the substantial increase in the demand for rhenium in the aviation sector, the application of superalloys has become the largest consumption area of rhenium.
The U.S. is investing a lot more in various disciplines than ever before, and many things that previously existed only in the laboratory are being put on the agenda for practical application. The heads of the relevant departments of the United States believe that this is an important resource that will have a major impact on the future, and that it must be in the hands of the United States at all times!
Why is rhenium getting more and more attention?
Rhenium, as an indispensable raw material for aviation manufacturing, was discovered as early as the twenty-fifth year of the last century, but it has been neglected for a long time. With the rise of the aerospace industry, the unique properties of rhenium have become prominent, making it an ideal material in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. Countries are competing for this rare resource, and China is gradually realizing the importance of protecting its own resources.
Especially in the past ten years, China, like the United States, has been vigorously developing higher-level engines in recent years, and the demand for rhenium in both countries is very strong, and rhenium is scarce and expensive, so the appreciation space and potential of rhenium have been continuously improved.