Due to their resistance and durability, molybdenum and rhenium are key for the development in many areas ranging from engineering to household products.
Molybdenum (Mo) is a silvery gray chemical element. It is not naturally found in its purest state, but as molybdenite. Molybdenite can be found in the different layers of the Earth, mixed with other elements, but primarily copper. Highly durable and resistant to temperature and corrosion, molybdenum is widely used in high-quality steel alloys required by the metallurgical, chemical, and metallic industry.
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Rhenium (Re) is one of the rarest metals on Earth. It is not found in its purest state in nature, but mixed with other minerals, like molybdenite. High density, tough, and resistant to heat, rhenium is used to create superalloys, used primarily in the aeronautics industry and in catalysts.
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There is no modern aircraft turbine which does not contain rhenium. This metal resists thermal stress and alloys containing it can support extreme temperature changes without being damaged and preserving all its properties. This way, rhenium has made possible the longest flights in aviation history.
Molybdenum cannot be found in nature in its purest state, but is obtained as molybdenum concentrate, that is, mixed with other minerals. This concentrate - also known as molybdenite - can be obtained directly (primary sources) or as a derivative of copper extraction (secondary sources). Today, the main origin of processed molybdenum in the world comes from secondary sources. Companies like Molymet subject mineral concentrates to different processes - including cleaning and roasting - which help chemically transform the metals and obtain molybdic oxide, which is the basis for the development of a wide range of products, particularly steel alloys.
Molybdenum is used primarily in special steel allows, offering important improvements such as: greater hardness, resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, greater durability and more efficient machinery. Molybdenum is also used in fertilizers, catalysts, lubricants, and other products. Molybdenum can be found in different formats, though the most frequent is technical molybdic oxide, ferromolybdenum, ammonium dimolybdate, pure oxide, and metallic molybdenum.
Although some products from the 14th century have been found to contain molybdenum, its regular use began around the end of the 19th century. At that time, the first experiments showed that molybdenum could replace tungsten in many steel alloys, to achieve a lighter weight and greater resistance. Later, WWI increased the steel demand and restricted the supply of tungsten. This scarcity led to a drive in molybdenum use and research on new applications of this mineral, which has proven to be an invaluable component for superalloys based on nickel, lubricants, chemical products, electronics, and many other applications.
Molybdenum is a natural element that is not only found as a mineral, but can also be found in low concentrations in plants, animals, and even the human body. Therefore, Molybdenum is essential to life.
Just as molybdenum, rhenium does not exist in a pure state in nature. This chemical element is usually found bound to molybdenite, which is, in turn, a byproduct of copper. Consequently, rhenium is obtained through cleaning and treatment processes applied to molybdenite concentrates. Rhenium is commercialized mainly as metallic rhenium and ammonium perrhenate.
Given its great hardness and resistance to high temperatures, rhenium is mainly used as an additive to elaborate super-alloys which, in turn, are used to manufacture turbines within the aeronautic industry and, to a lesser extent, catalyzers for oil refineries.
Rhenium was discovered in 1925 by three German scientists and was named after the Rhine River given that it was firstly found near said river.
The largest rhenium reserves in the Word are located in Chile, followed by USA, Russia, Kazakhstan and Armenia. Chile has 50% of the rhenium global production and Molymet is the main participant in said market.
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