Composed of between 70 and 80 percent helium and the remaining 20 to 30 percent oxygen, heliox is a medical-grade specialty gas mixture that alleviates respiratory distress and decreases the work of breathing. Used for over 50 years in the medical industry, heliox is three times less dense than air. For this reason, the molecules can diffuse in the lungs four times faster than oxygen. Helium is the perfect gas to mix with oxygen because it is non-reactive with body tissue and insoluble in body fluids.
Similar to heliox, lung diffusion mixtures are another type of medical-grade gas used for pulmonary functions, made up of various combinations of the following: oxygen, helium, balance nitrogen, and less than one percent of carbon monoxide, methane, acetylene or neon.
Nitrous oxide has both anesthetic and analgesic properties. Not only does it work as a minimal sedative, but it relieves anxiety and pain. Procedures requiring nitrous oxide will never administer 100 percent of the gas. Common gas mixtures are either 50/50 nitrous oxide and oxygen, or 70 percent nitrous oxide, 30 percent oxygen.
The welding process requires filler metal and shielding gas. It’s important to ensure the shielding gas and filler metal used for the project are compatible. Different shielding gases have different effects on filler metal. The choice of gas depends on the welding process, base material type, and material thickness. The TIG process only relies on inert gas such as argon and helium, but MIG shielding gas can contain different combinations of inert and active gasses.
Popular combinations include:
- • 25% CO2, 75% Argon (C25)
- • 10% CO2, 90% Argon (C10)
- • 98% Argon, 2% CO2 (98/2)
It can be difficult to determine the correct gas for your project, so having a professional you trust is invaluable. If you are new to filler metals or using an unfamiliar process, it’s best to obtain recommendations from an expert.
We provide a wide variety of gas mixes for use in medical, welding, and specialty gas use. If you need a specific purity level, we can provide the correct mixture, assuring you the quality you need for any process.
Modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) is a packaging system that involves changing the gaseous atmosphere surrounding a packaged food product. A blend of food grade nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen can be used to replace air in packages to extend the shelf life. MAP systems have grown in popularity because there is a growing market for minimally processed fruits and vegetables, non-frozen chilled meats, ready-to-eat meals, and semi-processed bulk foods. For a MAP system to work effectively, optimal packaging materials with proper gas permeability must be selected. Mixed gases for brewing beer combine beverage grade nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Depending on the type of beer, the ratios vary. A blend of 60% nitrogen and 40% carbon dioxide is used for many lagers. A blend of 75% nitrogen and 25% carbon dioxide is used for stouts and nitro pours.