What is Argon?
Argon (Ar) is one of the chemical elements. It is a rare gas. It is the most widely used in industry. Argon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is a gas separated from the air. It was first discovered from the air by British scientists Lord Rayleigh and William Ramsay in 1894. Argon is very inactive and can neither burn nor support combustion. It is an inert gas and generally does not form compounds.
2) Use of argon in daily life
Argon is widely used in daily life and is in high demand. It plays an indispensable role in modern industry and technology. For example, it is used in metal processing, welding technology, lighting technology, health care, food preservation and other application fields. From metal to food, the application technology is very wide and is constantly expanding.
The following are the more common application areas:
2.1 Metal processing
In metal welding, argon shielding gas is used to isolate air and other impurities during electric welding to prevent oxidation of the welding area. This can form a tight welding joint and improve welding quality.
2.2 Semiconductor manufacturing:
The characteristics of argon as a shielding gas can prevent the chip surface from oxidation and contamination. High-purity argon also has a cleaning effect to remove impurities on the chip surface, thereby improving the performance and stability of the chip.
2.3 Lighting technology:
The inactivity and poor thermal conductivity of argon can extend the life of the bulb. It provides a major selling point for sales. Secondly, the bulb is filled with argon, and it will appear blue-purple when powered on, thus becoming one of the main materials for neon lights.
2.4 Insulating glass:
Glass is everywhere in life. Filling argon in insulating glass is to add a layer of highly insulating gas protection layer to the glass to reduce thermal conductivity.
2.5 Food and winemaking:
Argon has very stable chemical properties, so it does not react with other chemical molecules, which has a great effect on the preservation and freshness of food.
3）argon tank sizes and price
The price of argon varies according to the application field. The price of industrial-grade argon is relatively high, while that of medical argon is relatively stable. There are also different purity levels. The purity of industrial-grade argon is 99.9% and that of high-purity argon is 99.999%. The price of high-purity argon is usually 20%-30% higher than that of industrial-grade argon. The second is the packaging of argon. More common is canned argon, which is delivered in cylinders, dewar flasks, tank trucks, etc. There are other influencing factors, such as production costs, transportation conditions, regional differences, and policy changes, which show a fluctuating trend.
Argon is not only in great demand, but also in great supply, so the price is relatively affordable compared to other inert gases, and it is inexpensive and of good quality, and it is also very competitive in the future supply market. In particular, the technology for recycling argon is constantly improving, making the supply more stable and meeting higher demands, and truly achieving cost reduction and efficiency improvement.
Argon compared to other noble gases.
| Characteristics | Argon (Ar) | Helium (He) | Neon (Ne) |
| Density | 1.66（air=1） | 0.178（lightest） | 0.90 |
| Boiling point | -185.8℃ | -268.9℃ | -246℃ |
| Cost | Medium | High | Relatively high |
4) Where to buy argon gas near me
The current sales market is very flexible and you can buy affordable argon gas through any legal channel. For example, direct supply from suppliers, sales on e-commerce platforms, companies specializing in gas sales (you can search for the websites of such companies directly on Google), and gas rental companies, etc. Each different channel has different advantages. The most obvious advantage of online purchases is price transparency, and the advantage of offline purchases is that you can inspect the factory and the actual product.
Comparison of the advantages of different procurement channels
| Procurement channel | Advantages | Limitations | Applicable customers |
| Supplier factory direct supply | First, you can directly inspect the factory, understand the factory’s strength, and have more assurance of the product. Secondly, the price is favorable and can be customized, and finally the supply is stable. | Need to order large quantities, the minimum order quantity is relatively high. | Factory customers, large demand for volume, long-term and stable demand. |
| E-commerce platform sales | Transparent prices, quick response to online negotiations. Can meet individual sales and trial products. | Cannot see the actual product, high quality problems, incomplete after-sales guarantee. | Small and medium-sized enterprises or individuals purchase needs, customers who are in a hurry to purchase. |
| A company specializing in gas sales. | More professional in gas sales, more complete products, more choices for customers, and more convenient price comparison. | More professional in gas sales, more complete products, more choices for customers, and more convenient price comparison. | High-end technology customer groups, such as aerospace, medical applications, semiconductor chip technology, etc. |
| Gas leasing company | Can sell individually, more guaranteed after-sales, can be rented by day, month, year for customers to choose, supply is more flexible. | Ultra-pure gas supply is limited. | C-end customers have individual purchase needs, or for testing, etc. |
5）Summarize
As a highly efficient gas, argon will bring different brilliance to various fields, provide convenience for modern industry, and meet different needs. Especially in today’s era of chips, argon runs through the entire process of chip production, building a bridge for semiconductor manufacturing to maintain stability and performance safety.
Through in-depth analysis of the properties of argon, we can discover more value-added functions, provide customers with high-value solutions, and gain more outstanding advantages in market competition. The development of argon application technology is an indispensable path to discover customers and develop markets.
FAQ
- Is Argon Gas Harmful?
Argon gas itself is non-toxic, but high concentrations can cause suffocation, and contact with liquid argon can cause severe frostbite.
- How to store argon?
The cylinder needs to be kept away from fire and avoid high temperature (<30℃)
- How to evaluate and select argon?
It is best to visit the factory on site to evaluate product quality certification, purity indicators, impurity content, inspection reports, third-party testing, and trials, etc.
- How to transport argon?
Secure the cylinder and install anti-dumping device. Avoid extreme temperature and exposure. Throwing and hitting are strictly prohibited.
- How to maintain argon?
Regular quality inspection is required, and expired bottles should not be used. If a leak occurs, evacuate quickly to a ventilated area, ventilate and dilute, and wear a self-contained breathing apparatus.
