On the main deformation mechanism in rhenium at room temperature

[Display omitted] •The basal slip is the primary deformation mechanism in Re.•The contribution of twinning to its deformation behavior is minor.•Re behaves like a HCP-metal, whose main deformation mechanism is BS. Deformation behavior of single-crystalline rhenium under tension at room temperature is examined. The basal slip gives the dominant contribution to its plastic deformation provides 10 ÷ 15% of elongation, while the influence of mechanical twinning is minor.