Porous　tungsten-rhenium　powders　with　various　compositions　were　prepared　by　a　spray　drying　method　combined　with　two-stage　hydrogen　reduction.　Using　the　W-Re　powders,　W-Re　alloy　substrates　were　successfully　fabricated　by　high　temperature　sintering　under　the　protection　of　hydrogen.　X-ray　diffraction　analysis,　thermogravimetric　analysis　and　temperature　programmed　reduction　were　carried　out　to　study　the　reduction　behavior　of　the　tungsten　and　rhenium　containing　precursor　powders　prepared　by　spray　drying.　It　reveals　that　the　first　stage　reduction　temperature　has　a　significant　impact　on　the　microstructure　of　the　W-Re　powders.　Rhenium　in　the　mixed　powder　affects　the　reduction　behavior　of　WO3.　Properties　of　the　W-Re　alloy　matrices,　including　relative　density,　open　porosity,　mechanical　characteristics　and　electronic　structures　are　also　investigated.　The　first-principles　calculation　method　proved　that　rhenium　reduces　the　reduction　barrier　of　WO3,　and　W-Re　compounds　obtained　in　this　study　are　suggested　to　be　a　ductile　material.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.