Argon Plant Application

Argon belongs to the group of noble gases that comprises 0.93 percent of the earth's atmosphere. The gas exhibits great stability and extremely low reaction rates and is popular as an inert gas. A monatomic, colorless, odorless, tasteless and nontoxic gas (in both its liquid and gaseous forms), 'Argon' is no corrosive and non-flammable, argon also possesses almost the same kind of solubility (in water) as oxygen and low thermal conductivity.

Produced, commonly, in conjunction with the manufacture of high purity oxygen using cryogenic distillation of air, Argon is used in diverse applications covering a number of industries. It is used in critical industrial processes; hence, Argon Plants finds their place in production process of high quality stainless steels, growing impurity-free silicon crystals for semi-conductor manufacture, etc.

Basically any industry that uses argon is a potential user of Argon Plants. Following is a partial list of these industries: -

The Metal Industry
Argon Plants holds a special place in manufacturing units of metals. Argon is primarily used as a blowing gas during manufacture of higher quality steels to avoid the formation of nitrides. It is also used as a shield gas in casting and stirring of ladles. It reduces chromium losses and the desired carbon content is achieved at a lower temperature. The common usage of argon Plant can further be divided into: -

Aluminum
Argon Plant renders Argon, which replaces air or nitrogen and creates an inert atmosphere conducive to manufacturing aluminum.

Steel Production Process
Similarly, Argon replaces gas or vapors and prevents oxidation during processing. It also assists in the removal of unwanted soluble gases during degasification and acting as a carrier gas it determines the composition of a sample through gas chromatography.

Welding
Argon Plant is required to create an inert gas shield during welding and to provide an environment, which is free from oxygen and nitrogen, vital for annealing and rolling metals. Argon or various argon mixtures are used as shield gases in many gas metal arc-welding methods.

Electronic Industry
In this industry the Argon Plant renders a safe atmosphere and heat-transfer medium for manufacture of silicone and germanium crystals used in the semiconductor industry.

The Light Manufacturing Industry
Argon plants are primarily used in this industry to fill incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs, to exclude oxygen or other reactive gases and to reduce the evaporation rate of the tungsten filament or to create a blue light in neon-type lamps.

Other places where Argon Plant finds application is as a non-reactive blanket in the manufacture of titanium and other reactive elements and primarily ices coring. It is also used in technical scuba diving to treat the dry suit, due to its noncreative, heat isolating effect.