Gas In Your Business for Metal Industry

Oxygen (O2)
The largest user of oxygen is the steel industry.  Modern steel making relies heavily on the use of oxygen to enrich air and increase combustion temperatures.  As a result, rapid combustion occurs at approximately 2800o C (5072oF). During the steel making process, unused carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon oxides, which leave as gases.  Large quantities of oxygen are also used to make other metals, such as copper, lead, and zinc.

Nitrogen (N2)
Nitrogen is used to treat the melt in the manufacture of steel and other metals and as a shield gas in the heat treatment of iron, steel and other metals.  It is also used as a process gas, together with other gases for reduction of carbonization.

Argon (Ar)
When steel is made in a converter, oxygen and argon are blown into the molten metal.  The addition of argon reduces chromium losses and the desired carbon content is achieved at a lower temperature. Argon is used as a blowing gas during manufacture of higher quality steels to avoid the formation of nitrides.
Argon is used as an inert gas in the manufacture of titanium to avoid oxidation and reaction with nitrogen.
Argon is also used as a shield gas in casting and stirring of ladles. Argon is used in aluminum manufacture to aid degasification and to remove dissolved hydrogen and particulates from molten aluminum. 

Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide is used on a large scale as a shield gas in MIG/MAG welding, where the gas protects the weld puddle against oxidation by the surrounding air.  A mixture of argon and carbon dioxide is commonly used today to achieve a higher welding rate and reduce the need for post weld treatment. It is also used in the manufacture of casting molds to enhance their hardness. 

Hydrogen (H2)
Hydrogen is mixed with inert gases to obtain a reducing atmosphere, which is required for many applications in the metallurgical industry, such as heat treating steel and welding.  It is often used in annealing stainless steel alloys, magnetic steel alloys, sintering and copper brazing.