WANTED!
synthesized or not
Rhenium diboride
http://www.reade.com/products/7-boride-compounds-powder/10434-rhenium-boride-b2re-rhenium-diboride-rhenium-boron-re-b-rhenium-boride-995-metals-basis-metal-boride-cas12355-99-6
Who is he?
Rhenium diboride came from the rare and mysterious Rhenium family, who were first spotted in 1925, in
Germany, by Walter Noddack, Ida Tacke, and Otto Berg. The Rheniums are not spotted very often, and
are only found in tiny amounts in certain materials(such as platinum ore). The Rheniums live throughout
the Earth’s crust.2
WATCH OUT!
Rhenium Diboride (alias; ReB2) from eye witness accounts1
• A black powder, ingot, lump, chunk or target
• Molar Mass (g/mol.) : 207.83l
• Density (g/cm3) :12.7
• Melting Point (°C) :2400
• Crystal Structure : hexagonal
• Solubility In Water : none
Be careful! It is believed that ReB2 is copycatting the feats of the criminals, Rhenium (known for his high
resistance to pressure) and Boron (who forms short, strong, covalent bonds with Rhenium)3
Why?
We want ReB2 for his potential to outdo diamonds at some tasks , such as cutting steel4
What ReB2 can do!
•He can cut and polish tools
• Also known to form a wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant coating
•Act as an industrial abrasive 1
What ReB2 might do!
• He could be used in rockets to travel to distant planets, as he can withstand high temperatures.
• He might be used in the defense industry in electronic components, such as laser vision and imaging,
aerospace communication devices, projectiles and artillery.
Nina Simon
Nomonde Ntsonkota
Racilya Naicker
Hyde Park High School
Teacher : Ms A. Maharaj
studentposters.co.uk
1. Anon. 2012. Rhenium Diboride (ReB2) from READE.[online] http://www.reade.com/products/7-boride-compounds-powder/ [19 July 2014]
2. Emsley, J., 2011. An A-Z Guide to the Elements. 2nd Edition. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
3. Kaner, R., 2007. Rhenium diboride-a drill's best friend?. Materials Performance 46.6:16-17.
4. Wolpert, S., 2007. UCLA Scientists design new superhard material. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/UCLA-Scientists-Design-New-Super-7872 [19 July 2014]