Where is argon gas used? Technical information

Argon is a monatomic inert gas, it has no taste, smell and color. And in the periodic table of Mendeleev, the ordinal number of argon is the eighteenth. It is worth saying that this gas in natural conditions is not distributed in compounds of a chemical nature, but in a free form. The air of our planet contains 0.95% of argon. By the way, this gas is in seawater  and the earth's crust.

Argon was first discovered in 1882 by John Rayleigh, the famous English physicist. Thanks to experiments and scientific experiments, Rayleigh discovered that the processed nitrogen liter is more weighty than the same liter of substance obtained after the disintegration of the nitrogen compound.

The published discovery made it possible to put forward hypotheses that there are significant differences about the values ​​of the gas density obtained by two completely different methods. Physicists have suggested that nitrogen released from the air has an unknown gas with a higher density. The experiments were continued, and later argon was isolated. It is the most inert of gases known in the nineteenth century. In 1894, scientists made an official report on argon and its properties.

Properties of argon

Argon is a monatomic gas. It has no smell, no color and no taste. Under standard atmospheric conditions, the density of argon is 1, 7839 kg / m3. Approximately 100 milliliters of ordinary water can dissolve about three milliliters of argon.

The boiling point of the gas is minus 185 degrees Celsius, and the melting point is 189 degrees. Argon has two chemical compounds (HArF and CU (Ar) O). These compounds are obtained at low minus temperature. Argon is synthesized by means of a procedure for separating air into nitrogen and oxygen.

Application of gas

Argon is quite cheap and at the same time it is very in demand in a variety of industrial spheres. For example, this gas is found in ordinary incandescent lamps. Once upon a time, nitrogen was used for these purposes. This gas is also used in the metallurgical industry and in similar related industries.

Plus the use of this gas is that it helps to prevent harmful contact of metal with air. Argon is used in medicine. It is inert, and this allows you to clean tools, they also process wetsuits and use it as a propellant for conventional aerosol packages.

In our company you can in cylinders with delivery or self-delivery.

Security measures

Argon is not explosive and non-toxic to humans. But its high concentration in the air can harm a person, as the oxygen starvation of the brain can begin, accompanied by loss of consciousness and sharp dizziness. Although argon is not a combustible substance, it is necessary to handle it carefully, as its heating also increases its pressure.

Contact with a liquid containing argon can cause severe frostbite of the limbs. And with the ingress of argon in the eyes, loss of vision occurs, and the retinal burns appear. Therefore, when working with argon, you should always wear protective clothing and respirators.

It should also be remembered that argon is heavier than air in its gaseous state. And the leakage of gas from the cylinder can seriously affect the physical condition of a person. Typically, in industry, when working with argon, a hose gas mask or insulating device is used. The level of argon in the ambient air is carefully monitored. According to all the oxygen standards in the room should be at least nineteen percent.

General information

Argon is an inert monatomic gas without color, taste and smell. The third most abundant element in the earth's atmosphere (after nitrogen and oxygen) is 0.93% by volume and 1.29% by mass. Argon is the most common inert gas in the earth's atmosphere, 9.34 liters of argon are contained in 1 m 3 of air (for comparison: in the same volume of air, 18.2 cm 3 of neon, 5.2 cm 3 of helium, 1.1 cm 3 krypton, 0.09 cm 3 of xenon). There is argon in water, up to 0.3 cm 3 in a liter of marine and up to 0.55 cm 3 in a liter fresh water. Its average content in the earth's crust (clarke) is 0.04 g per ton, which is 14 times greater than helium, and in 57 - than neon. It turns out that on the Earth of argon is much more than all other elements of his group, taken together.

Physical properties

Argon is a monatomic gas with a boiling point (at normal pressure) -185.9 ° C (slightly lower than oxygen, but slightly higher than nitrogen). The melting point is -189.4 ° C. In 3.3 ml of argon is dissolved in 100 ml of water at 20 ° C, in some organic solvents argon dissolves much better than in water.

Chemical properties

The name "argon" (from the Greek - lazy, slow, inactive) - emphasizes the most important property of the element - its chemical inactivity.

So far only 2 chemical compounds of argon are known - argon hydrofluoride and CU (Ar) O, which exist at very low temperatures. In addition, argon forms excimer molecules, that is, molecules in which the excited electronic states are stable and the ground state is unstable. Also, with many substances between which hydrogen bonds act (water, phenol, hydroquinone and others), it forms inclusion compounds (clathrates), where the argon atom, as a kind of "guest", is in the cavity formed in the crystal lattice by the molecules of the substance- owner.

Receiving

Argon is produced as a by-product when air is separated into oxygen and nitrogen. Usually, two-stage distillation air separation units consisting of a bottom column high pressure  (preliminary separation), the top column low pressure  and an intermediate condenser-evaporator. Ultimately, nitrogen is removed from above, and oxygen from above the condenser. The volatility of argon is greater than that of oxygen, but less than nitrogen. Therefore, the argon fraction is withdrawn at a point about one-third the height of the top column and is taken to a special column. Then follows the purification of "raw" argon from oxygen (by chemical means or adsorption) and from nitrogen (rectification).

Application

Argon is widely used due to its main property - chemical inactivity.

Initially, the main consumer of argon was electrovacuum technology. And now the vast majority of incandescent lamps (billions a year) are filled with a mixture of argon (86%) and nitrogen (14%). The transition from pure nitrogen to this mixture increased the light output of the lamps. Since argon successfully combines a significant density with low thermal conductivity, the filament metal of the filament evaporates in such lamps more slowly, the transfer of heat from the thread to the flask in them is less. Argon is used and in modern fluorescent lamps  to facilitate ignition, better current transmission and protection of cathodes from destruction.

However, in recent decades, the bulk of the produced argon is not in light bulbs, but in metallurgy.

There are already metallurgical shops with a volume of several thousand cubic meters with an atmosphere consisting of high purity argon. In these workshops they work in insulating suits, and breathe air through the hoses (exhaled air is also drained through hoses); spare breathing apparatus fixed on the backs of workers.

In the environment of argon, processes are conducted in which it is necessary to exclude contact of the molten metal with oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and air moisture. The argon medium is used for hot treatment of titanium, tantalum, niobium, beryllium, zirconium, hafnium, tungsten, uranium, thorium, and also alkali metals. In an argon atmosphere, plutonium is treated, some compounds of chromium, titanium, vanadium and other elements are obtained.

By purging argon through liquid steel, gas inclusions are removed from it. This improves the properties of the metal.

It is increasingly used arc welding in argon. In the argon jet, thin-walled products and metals, which were previously considered difficult to weld, can be welded. When welding in an argon jet, there is no need for fluxes and electrode coatings, and therefore, in the cleaning of the seam from slag and flux residues. Argon refers to inert gases that do not chemically interact with the metal and do not dissolve in it. Inert gases are used for welding chemically active metals (titanium, aluminum, magnesium, etc.), as well as in all cases when it is necessary to obtain welds, homogeneous in composition with the main and filler metal (high-alloy steels, etc.). Inert gases provide protection of the arc and welded metal, without having a metallurgical effect on it.

Argon is used at plasma welding  and cutting of metals  as a plasma-forming gas. In microplasma welding, most metals are welded in continuous or pulsed modes by an arc of direct polarity, burning between the tungsten electrode of the plasma torch and the product in the jet of a plasma-forming inert gas - (most often) argon.

The electric arc in the argon atmosphere brought a revolution in the technique of cutting metals. The process was much faster, it became possible to cut thick sheets of the most refractory metals. The argon blown along the column of the arc (in mixture with hydrogen) protects the edges of the cut and the tungsten electrode from the formation of oxide, nitride and other films. At the same time, it compresses and concentrates the arc on a small surface, causing the temperature in the cutting zone to reach 4000-6000 ° C. In addition, this gas jet blows out the cutting products.

Since argon has a low thermal conductivity, it is used when filling the internal space of double-glazed windows.

Protective functions are performed by argon and when growing single crystals  (semiconductors, ferroelectrics).

The desire to use the properties and capabilities of ultrapure materials is one of the trends of modern technology. For ultrapurity, inert protective media are needed, of course, also clean; Argon is the cheapest and available of noble gases.

Argon of high purity is used in spectroscopic installations  for the analysis of the purity of materials and in argon lasers.

In the food industry  Argon is registered as food additive E938, as a propellant and packaging gas.

Used argon and as a fire extinguisher in gas fire extinguishing installations.

Parameters of quality of high purity argon gas TU 6-21-12-94

Storage and transportation of argon

Argon gas is stored and transported in cylinders painted in gray with the inscription "ARGON" green.

Argon of high purity is stored and transported in cylinders painted in gray with the inscription "HIGH CLEANLESS ARGON" white.

Argon liquid is stored and transported in special cryogenic tanks.

Argon compressed and liquid refers to the class of dangerous goods. Therefore, the transport used to transport argon should be equipped in accordance with the rules for the transport of dangerous goods.

Hazards and safety measures

Inert gases have a physiological effect, which manifests itself in their narcotic effect on the body. The narcotic effect of inhalation of argon is manifested only at barometric pressure above 0.2 MPa.

Argon is an inert monatomic gas without color, taste and smell. The third most abundant element in the earth's atmosphere (after nitrogen and oxygen) is 0.93% by volume and 1.29% by mass. Argon is the most common inert gas in the earth's atmosphere, 9.34 liters of argon are contained in 1 m 3 of air (for comparison: in the same volume of air, 18.2 cm 3 of neon, 5.2 cm 3 of helium, 1.1 cm 3 krypton, 0.09 cm 3 of xenon). There is argon in water, up to 0.3 cm 3 in a liter of marine and up to 0.55 cm 3 in a liter of fresh water. Its average content in the earth's crust (clarke) is 0.04 g per ton, which is 14 times greater than helium, and in 57 - than neon. It turns out that on the Earth of argon is much more than all other elements of his group, taken together.

Physical properties

Argon is a monatomic gas with a boiling point (at normal pressure) -185.9 ° C (slightly lower than oxygen, but slightly higher than nitrogen). The melting point is -189.4 ° C. In 3.3 ml of argon is dissolved in 100 ml of water at 20 ° C, in some organic solvents argon dissolves much better than in water.

Chemical properties

The name "argon" (from the Greek - lazy, slow, inactive) - emphasizes the most important property of the element - its chemical inactivity.

So far only 2 chemical compounds of argon are known - argon hydrofluoride and CU (Ar) O, which exist at very low temperatures. In addition, argon forms excimer molecules, that is, molecules in which the excited electronic states are stable and the ground state is unstable. Also, with many substances between which hydrogen bonds act (water, phenol, hydroquinone and others), it forms inclusion compounds (clathrates), where the argon atom, as a kind of "guest", is in the cavity formed in the crystal lattice by the molecules of the substance- owner.

Receiving

Argon is produced as a by-product when air is separated into oxygen and nitrogen. Usually, two-part rectification air separation apparatuses are used, consisting of a lower pressure column (pre-separation), a low pressure top column and an intermediate condenser-evaporator. Ultimately, nitrogen is removed from above, and oxygen from above the condenser. The volatility of argon is greater than that of oxygen, but less than nitrogen. Therefore, the argon fraction is withdrawn at a point about one-third the height of the top column and is taken to a special column. Then follows the purification of "raw" argon from oxygen (by chemical means or adsorption) and from nitrogen (rectification).

Classification of argon by grade

Argon provides good protection of the weld pool. Depending on the purpose and content of this gas is divided into three classes. The highest grade of argon (99.99% Ar) is used for welding, reactive metals, zirconium, titanium alloys, molybdenum, alloys based on them, responsible stainless steel structures. The first grade of argon (99.98% Ar) is used for welding non-consumable electrode, magnesium, aluminum, magnesium and aluminum alloys, which are less sensitive to oxygen and nitrogen impurities. The second grade of argon (99.95% Ar) is used for welding stainless steels, refractory alloys and pure aluminum. For welding, mixtures of argon with other gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide) can also be used.

Storage and transportation of argon

Argon is stored and transported in a gaseous form in steel cylinders at a pressure of 150 atm, that is, 6.2 m 3 of gaseous argon in the cylinder, calculated as 20 ° C and a pressure of 760 mm Hg. Art. It is also possible to transport argon in liquid form in special cisterns or vessels of Dewar with its subsequent gasification. The use of cylinders must be carried out in accordance with the rules safe operation  vessels that work under pressure.

Argon - dangerous to life, but useful in production!

Sometimes a person is quite light-minded about what he does not see. However, if it comes to gases, then, perhaps, there is not a single indifferent person who would not be afraid of them. Speaking about argon in cylinders, do not forget that this colorless gas, which does not have a smell, only at first glance seems harmless. Actually cylinder filling with argon  , which is a fairly popular service, is also quite dangerous. Therefore, refueling of argon cylinders should be trusted only by professionals with extensive experience.

Our company offers you argon in bottles at the best prices. At the same time, we offer not only fueling the cylinders with argon at a price lower than the market price, but also delivering it. At the same time refueling of the argon balloon is carried out by specialists who observe safety procedures and rules for refueling cylinders with argon gas.

No less attention should be paid to delivery of argon  , because the transportation of argon in cylinders is regulated by the Regulations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

Where is argon used in cylinders? Gaseous argon is most often used in welding. In addition, it is a highly sought-after product in the metallurgical sphere, since it produces melting and cutting of many non-ferrous metals. On the other hand, in metallurgical production, argon in cylinders is often used for refining metals. Metal refining is a list of measures aimed at cleaning metals from unwanted impurities.

But that's not all, because even the usual light bulb you use daily contains gaseous argon. Thanks to this inert gas, the light output of the bulbs increases.

And who did not see the beautiful and bright blue-blue billboards shimmering in the night? We are all used to calling such a light neon, but it's only partly true. After all, if it is a question of blue-blue advertising tubes, then be sure that these are argon tubes! As you can see, argon gas is a very two-faced substance that along with its useful properties has dangerous sides. For example, liquid argon leads to frostbite of the skin and mucous membranes.

All about selling argon:

If you need high-quality argon, then you can buy it in our company, which today offers gaseous argon in high, first and second grade cylinders.

Gaseous argon is supplied mainly in cylinders, painted in colors, approved by the state standard. At the same time argon crude and technical are placed in cylinders of black color, the inscriptions on which differ in color. Raw argon in the cylinders has a white inscription with an underscore of the same color, and on a cylinder with technical argon you can see a blue inscription with a blue underline. A special place is occupied by pure argon, the sale of which must be made only in gray cylinders that have a green marking with green underlining.

If you need to buy argon in bottles of various sizes, we are glad to inform you that our company offers argon cylinders of large, medium and small volumes. All cylinders for technical gases, available in our possession comply with the approved standards and have quality certificates, so you can be sure that the cylinders we buy with such a dangerous gas as argon are absolutely safe for transportation and operation.