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Argon (Ar) is a noble gas that comprises 0.93 percent
of the earth's atmosphere. (Noble gases are a group of rare
gases that include argon, helium, krypton, neon, xenon and
sometimes radon. They exhibit great stability and extremely
low reaction rates. Also called inert gases.)
Colorless, odorless, tasteless and nontoxic, argon forms
no known chemical compounds. A specific gravity of 1.38 makes
argon 25 percent heavier than air. At atmospheric pressure,
it becomes a liquid at -302°F (-186°C). Noncorrosive
and non-flammable, argon also exhibits low thermal conductivity
and slight solubility in water.
Argon is used in diverse applications covering a number of
industries, including:
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Aluminum ... to replace
air or nitrogen, creating an inert atmosphere conducive
to manufacturing aluminum; to assist in the removal of
unwanted soluble gases during degasification; and to remove
dissolved hydrogen and particulates from molten aluminum.
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Steel ... to displace
gas or vapors and prevent oxidation during processing;
to obtain temperature consistency and homogenous composition
by stirring molten steel; to assist in the removal of
unwanted soluble gases during degasification; as a carrier
gas, to determine the composition of a sample through
gas chromatography; and to flush out carbon monoxide and
reduce chromium losses in the Argon-Oxygen Decarburization
(A.O.D.) used during stainless steel refining. |
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Metal Fabrication ... to
create an inert gas shield during welding; to provide
an oxygen- and nitrogen- free environment for annealing
and rolling metals and alloys; and to flush molten metals
to eliminate porosity in castings. |
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Electronics ... to provide
a protective atmosphere and heat-transfer medium for growing
germanium and silicon crystals for ultra-pure semiconductors.
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Lighting ... to fill incandescent
and fluorescent light bulbs; to create a blue light in
neon-type |
Although nontoxic, argon can act as a simple asphyxiant by displacing
air or liquefying oxygen. In addition, exposure to liquid argon
may cause severe frostbite to the skin and eyes. To avoid these
harmful effects, producers and customers should follow strict
safety guidelines for storage and handling, and consult our
argon Material Safety Data Sheet.
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Argon, MSDS (pdf) |
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Argon (Cryogenic Liquid), MSDS (pdf) |
Minneapolis Oxygen Company offers its customers a variety
of argon supply options including:
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Bulk liquid delivery in tank trucks |
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Cylinders |
Argon...Facts
Because of its low thermal conductivity,
argon provides window manufacturers with the gas barrier they
need to produce double-pane insulated windows. During the
production process, argon gas is injected between two window
panes. This insulation barrier greatly improves the window's
energy efficiency.
A co-product of oxygen and nitrogen production, argon is
manufactured commercially by means of air separation technology.
In a cryogenic process, atmospheric air is compressed and
cooled. Following liquefaction, the air is fractionally distilled
based on the different boiling points of each component. (The
boiling point of argon is between those of nitrogen and oxygen.)
During distillation, liquid nitrogen is the first product
extracted from the high-pressure column. Next, a stream containing
oxygen and argon (plus other gases) is withdrawn. The crude
stream, containing approximately 10 percent argon, is refined
in a separate distillation column to produce argon with 98
percent purity.
Manufacturers can further refine the stream by mixing the
argon with hydrogen, catalytically burning the trace oxygen
to water, drying and, finally, distilling the stream to remove
remaining hydrogen and nitrogen. Using this process, producers
can achieve an argon product with 99.9995 percent purity.
Select a gas from the list of the below for more information
about gas applications and supply options.
| » Atmospheric Gases |
» Process Gases |
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| » Gases & Mixtures for Specific Applications |
» Rare Gases |
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