Carbon and oxygen content in tungsten alloys with rhenium

The content of oxygen and carbon in tungsten during its alloying with rhenium has been studied by activation with helium ions. Three series of alloys with Re content 0.5; 1; 2; 5; 10; 15; 28 % have been melted. It has been shown that carbon concentration does not depend on an alloy composition and changes within 1-5x10-5 %. The oxygen content in tungsten at first decreases when rhenium is added and then increases. Minimum oxygen concentration is observed at 2-5 % Re. At these concentrations of Re oxygen content is about by an order of magnitude lower than in pure tungsten. Gibbs energy has been calculated for the reaction of tungsten monoxide reduction with rhenium in a gaseous phase. The obtained results agree well with experimental data and confirm the possible deoxidation of tungsten with rhenium