Preparation and characterization of W-5Re composite powder prepared by a novel wet chemical method

This study investigates an optimized route for synthesizing W-5Re composite powder using a novel wet-chemical method. High-purity powders were obtained through hydrothermal synthesis followed by hydrogen reduction. Processing parameters, including pH, hydrothermal temperature, holding time, and drying conditions, had a significant effect on precursor characteristics. Increased hydrothermal temperature and prolonged holding time promoted particle coarsening, whereas higher pH values induced the formation of irregular porous structures. Two-step hydrogen reduction yielded a W-Re solid solution as the primary phase. Under optimized conditions (pH 0.5, hydrothermal temperature 150 °C, reaction time 12 h, and freeze-drying), the W-5Re alloy powder exhibited a uniform morphology with an average particle size below 200 nm. Compared to conventional mechanical alloying, the proposed method suppresses agglomeration, enhances compositional uniformity, and offers a controllable route for synthesizing nanoscale precursors. Importantly, this work systematically optimizes key wet-chemical parameters for W-Re powders, highlighting a unique processing pathway that differs from previously reported single-variable studies. These findings highlight the potential of wet-chemical synthesis as an efficient and precise approach for fabricating high-performance W-Re powders for advanced structural applications.