High-purity argon and ultra-pure argon are rare gases that are widely used in industry. Its nature is very inactive, neither burning nor supporting combustion. In the aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding, atomic energy industry and machinery industry sectors, when welding special metals, such as aluminum, magnesium, copper and its alloys, and stainless steel, argon is often used as welding maintenance gas to prevent welding parts from being oxidized or nitridated by air.
In terms of metal smelting, oxygen and argon blowing are important measures for the production of high-quality steel. The argon consumption per ton of steel is 1-3m3. In addition, the smelting of special metals such as titanium, zirconium, germanium, and the electronics industry also require argon as a maintenance gas.
The 0.932% argon contained in the air has a boiling point between oxygen and nitrogen, and the highest content in the middle of the tower on the air separation plant is called the argon fraction. Separate the oxygen and nitrogen together, extract the argon fraction, and further separate and purify, also can obtain the argon by-product. For all low pressure air separation equipment, generally 30% to 35% of the argon in the processing air can be obtained as a product (the latest process can increase the argon extraction rate to more than 80%); for medium pressure air separation equipment, due to the expansion of the air Entering the lower tower does not affect the rectification process of the upper tower, and the extraction rate of argon can reach about 60%. However, the total processing air volume of small air separation equipment is small, and the amount of argon that can be produced is limited. Whether it is necessary to configure argon extraction equipment depends on the specific conditions.
Argon is an inert gas and has no direct damage to the human body. However, after industrial use, the exhaust gas produced will cause great harm to the human body, causing silicosis and eye damage.
Although it is an inert gas, it is also a suffocating gas. Inhalation of a large amount can cause suffocation. The production site should be ventilated, and technicians engaged in argon gas should have regular occupational disease examinations every year to ensure their health.
Argon itself is non-toxic, but has a suffocating effect at high concentrations. When the concentration of argon in the air is higher than 33%, there is a danger of suffocation. When the argon concentration exceeds 50%, severe symptoms will appear, and when the concentration reaches 75% or above, it can die within a few minutes. Liquid argon can hurt the skin, and eye contact can cause inflammation.
Post time: Nov-01-2021
