| Electronics |
|
In the semiconductor industry, argon is used in a number of device fabrication steps
but its largest volume use is as a protective atmosphere in the manufacture of single
crystal silicon by a number of processes known as crystal pulling. The single crystal is
then sliced into thin wafers for subsequent processing into semiconductor chips.
|
| Fabrication |
|
Argon is used as a shielding gas for MIG and TIG Welding processes and plasma-cutting.
Argon is used alone or mixed with other gases such as helium, carbon dioxide, oxygen,
nitrogen or hydrogen. Each mixture is often specific to welding a particular material or to
a particular process. |
| Lasers |
|
Argon can be used for the assist gas for the laser cutting of titanium as well as laser welding
in CO2, ND:YAG and Diode machines. |
| Metals |
|
Argon is used to exclude atmospheric air from contact with metals and metal alloys that
will either react with nitrogen contained in the air or take it into solution. |
|
| Spectrographic analysis |
|
Arc-spark analysis uses argon in the process of measuring the characteristic
wavelength of light generated by striking an arc onto the metallic sample
being analysed. |
| Window unit insulation/double-glazing |
|
Argon is used to fill the inter-space in double-glazed window units because
of its low thermal conductivity relative to air or nitrogen. |
