Argon (Ar)


Characteristics:

  • makes up 1% of the atmosphere
  • can be interchanged with helium in many uses.
  • Does not react with the white-hot tungsten
  • used in “neon signs”.
  • No color, odor & taste
  • Non-flammable

 


USES:

- Used as a shielding gas (from oxygen) in the welding of metals such as aluminum and stainless steel
- Used in refining exotic metals such as zirconium, titanium, and many alloys
- Mixed with hydrogen for cutting operations and for coating metals with refractory materials
- Used extensively in the incandescent lamp industry for the filling of light  bulbs
- In doping semi-conductors
- As gaseous cooling medium in nuclear reactors
- To provide a protective atmosphere for growing germanium and silicon  crystals for transistors
- To provide protective atmosphere in the production of such reactive metals as titanium and zirconium
- To fill cold weather fluorescent lamps
- To trace leaks in refrigeration and other closed system
- Medical application with oxygen
- Used in production of stainless steel by “argon-oxygen decarburizing” process which requires large quantities of argon


PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Argon is the by-product in the manufacturing of liquid oxygen and nitrogen. The process is either fractionation or distillation.


GAS COMPOSITION

                                      Welding Grade                        High Purity
Argon                           Above 99.98%                       99.999254%
Oxygen                        Less than 10 vpm                  Less than 6 vpm
Nitrogen                      Less than 100 vpm                Less than 30 vpm
Carbon Dioxide          Less than 5 vpm                     Less than 5 vpm
Carbon Monoxide       Less than 1 vpm                    Less than 1 vpm
Methane                      Less than 1 vpm                    Less than 1 vpm
Hydrogen                    Less than 1 vpm                    Less than 1 vpm
Moisture @ 15.5 oC   Less than 25 vpm                  Less than 12 vpm


MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY

 Argon (Ar) is non-corrosive and so any common metal is acceptable, provided the equipment is designed to withstand process pressure.


CYLINDER INFORMATION

Gaseous Argon                      -In cylinders meeting specs. 3A or 3AA
Pressurized Liquid Argon     -In cylinders meeting ICC specs 4L200 or 4L
Cylinder Requalification       -For gaseous services by hydrostatic retest every 5 years except ICC-4 cylinders, every 10 yrs. No period retest for types 3C, 3E & 7


Containers Sizes and Color Coding:

Type                        Content     Color-Body     Color-Collar
Standard (42 L)     5.38 m3               Black     White/Gray

Note:  At normal temperature, cylinder pressure ranges from 1800 psig to 2000 psig.
       Type of cylinders may vary according to customer’s specification.


SAFTEY PRECAUTIONS:

- Asphyxiant in high concentrations
- Use only approved pressure rated equipment
- Never allow oil or grease on a cylinder or valve
- Cylinders should be secured from falling over
- Always close cylinder valve before disconnecting it from a hose line of manifold.
- In case of relief valve cylinder opens while being transported or set, the cylinder should be moved to a safe place and vented until the pressure is lowered.
- Always close the cylinder valve when the work is finished.