Emission filaments made from a rhenium alloy and method of manufacturing thereof

A new Rhenium alloy usable for improving the performance of emission filaments used in mass spectrometers or other similar scientific instruments, which is made by adding low level concentrations of Yttrium Oxide to Rhenium of less than 10%. This new alloy has demonstrated superior performance characteristics compared to pure Rhenium for this purpose. Filaments made from the Yttria/Rhenium alloy exhibit the same voltage, current and emission properties as Rhenium but have the added advantage of greatly decreasing warping during use. The Rhenium alloy filaments are usable with various shapes and configurations including straight filaments, multiple coiled filaments and pin shaped filaments. Electron microscopy and microscopy studies verify that the Yttria/Rhenium material of the new alloy has a smaller grain size and increased strength when compared to pure Rhenium, which accounts for the enhanced structural strength.