Gases for Life - Messer Group

More documents

Recommendations

Info

GaseWiki [3]Argon –Inactivity welcomeEach of us breathes in (and outagain) a good 120 litres of argonevery day. At just under one percent, the noble gas is the third mostabundant gas in the atmosphereafter oxygen and nitrogen. One litreof air contains around 9.3 millilitresof argon. It is the third mostabundant element in the universebesides helium and neon, and is themost prevalent of the seven noblegases on earth.Profile: Argon [ Ar ]Element symbolOccurrenceArBoiling point - 186 °CFreezing point - 189 °CChemicalpropertiesProductionMost abundant noble gas on earth, makingup approximately 0.93% of the atmosphereColourless, odourless noble gas, monatomicand extremely inert, heavier than air, nonflammableAir separationBy far the largest proportion of argon on earth is found in theatmosphere. Since argon is also produced by the decay of thepotassium isotope 40K in the earth’s crust, small amounts ofit are present in rocks. Volcanoes and hot springs also leak thenoble gas into sea water and ground water.After helium, argon was the second noble gas to be describedscientifically. The British chemists William Ramsay and WilliamRayleigh discovered it in 1894 when they were investigatingthe composition of air. Since the gas – like all noblegases – turned out to be extremely inert, the scientists namedit argon, after the Ancient Greek word “aergon”, meaning“inactive”. To this day, only one chemical compound involvingargon is known of – argon fluorohydride HArF, which Finnishscientists demonstrated in 2000; however, it is only stable atextremely low temperatures.UsesShielding gas for welding, degassingof metal melts, filling gas in light bulbs,illuminating gas for gas discharge lamps,laser medium in argon-ion lasers, fillinggas in insulated glass windows, protectionagainst oxidation in the food industry,gaseous extinguishing agentArgon is non-flammable, it is heavier than air and displaysvirtually no chemical reactivity. The bulk of industrially producedargon is used as a shielding gas for welding and inmetallurgy, for example in the production of steel, pure siliconor titanium. It is used as an extinguishing agent in automaticfire-extinguishing systems and, mixed with helium, it ensuresthat airbags inflate in a flash in an emergency. Its low thermalconductivity makes the noble gas a good filling gas for thespace between the panes of glass in double-glazed windows.It is also used in winemaking for transfer-pumping and as agas filling in casks in order to protect the wine against oxidation.Argon is also used as a filling gas for light bulbs and as anilluminating gas for gas discharge lamps, where it produces itstypical purple hue.Editorial Team18 Gases for Life 03 | 2011
DialogueImprintPublished by:Messer Group GmbHCorporate CommunicationsGahlingspfad 31D-47803 KrefeldEditorial Team:Diana Buss – Editor-in-chiefPhone: +49 2151 7811-251diana.buss@messergroup.comBenjamin Auweiler, Corporate Officebenjamin.auweiler@messergroup.comAngela Bockstegers, Corporate Officeangela.bockstegers@messergroup.comThomas Böckler, Application Technologythomas.boeckler@messergroup.comDr. Christoph Erdmann,Production & Engineeringchristoph.erdmann@messergroup.comTim Evison, Corporate Officetim.evison@messergroup.comDr. Bernd Hildebrandt, ApplicationTechnologybernd.hildebrandt@messergroup.comMichael Holy, Region Central Europemichael.holy@messergroup.comMonika Lammertz, Application Technologymonika.lammertz@messergroup.comKrisztina Lovas, Region Southeast Europekrisztina.lovas@messer.huDr. Joachim Münzel, Patents & Trademarksjoachim.muenzel@messergroup.comAngélique Renier, Region Western Europearenier@messer.frMarlen Schäfer, Corporate Officemarlen.schaefer@messergroup.comNicole Urweider, ASCO Carbon Dioxide LTDurweider@ascoco2.comConcept and Realisation:Agentur Brinkmann GmbHMevissenstraße 64aD-47803 KrefeldText and Editing:klartext: von pekker!Römerstraße 15D-79423 HeitersheimThe Gases for Life editorial teamWe are ...From top to bottom: AngéliqueRenier, Dr. Bernd Hildebrandt,Tim Lieser, Krisztina Lovas,Monika Lammertz, MarlenSchäfer, Dr. Joachim Münzel,Diana Buss and Michael Holy(not pictured: BenjaminAuweiler, Angela Bockstegers,Thomas Böckler, Dr. ChristophErdmann, Tim Evison andNicole Urweider)CompetitionCheers!In this issue of the magazine, readershave the chance to win a selection ofspecial beverages, in keeping with thesubject of our cover story. These includebeers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, allof which have been produced by ourcustomers.Which gas has the best insulation propertiesfor insulated glass windows?4 10Which coffee capsules are produced withthe help of Messer gases?29What is the name given to the “ovens” inwhich carbon fibres are “baked”?6For your chance toenjoy these specialbeverages, all youneed to do is answerour questions relatingto this issue of “Gasesfor Life”. The lettersin the colouredboxes will give youthe answer. Pleasesend it by email withCongratulations!The winner of thelast competition wasWerner Dittmann,Voestalpine RotecGmbH, Krieglach,Austria. Thecorrect answer was“KÖNIGSALLEE”.the subject line “Gases for Life competition”to: diana.buss@messergroup.com.The deadline is 31 October 2011.This competition is not open to employees ofthe Messer Group or their families. In the eventof multiple correct answers, the winner will bepicked randomly. The result of the draw will befinal and not subject to appeal.What is the brand name of a range of Messer gasmixtures used in the beverage industry?Translation:Context GmbHElisenstraße 4–10D-50667 KölnGo to www.messergroup.com. for comprehensiveinformation about “Gases for Life”.“Gases for Life” is published four times ayear in German, English and HungarianAnswer:8 357B2 3 4 5 6 7 8Have fun and (with a bit of luck) enjoy some sparklinglyrefreshing beverages!9 10Gases for Life 03 | 201119
Page 1 and 2: Issue 03 | September 2011www.messer
Page 3 and 4: ContentsCover Story10 Pleasant, inv
Page 5 and 6: NewsPéter Szúnyog (Zollner) and L
Page 7 and 8: Practical FocusIn der Herstellung v
Page 9 and 10: People Focus6 questions forIvan Per
Page 11 and 12: Cover Story“Our gases andapplicat
Page 13 and 14: Cover Storyaddition, the carbon dio
Page 15 and 16: Using GasesN 225 % N 2Mixture ensur
Page 17: Green PageEnjoying the optimum insu

Gases for Life - Messer Group

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?