Argon - Experis ultra-high purity gases Technical specification

Importance of the Topic

Ultra-high purity argon plays a pivotal role in analytical chemistry and process control, where even trace impurities can compromise measurement accuracy and instrument performance. High-purity argon is essential for techniques such as inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry, mass spectrometry, semiconductor fabrication, and inert atmospheres in sensitive manufacturing processes.

Objectives and Study Overview

This specification sheet outlines Air Products’ Experis range of ultra-high purity (UHP) argon products, detailing impurity limits, physical properties, package options, and the benefits of advanced BIP® purification technology. It aims to guide users in selecting the appropriate grade for their analytical or process requirements.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Air Products verifies gas purity through:

• Batch analysis: statistical testing of cylinders from the same production batch.
• Individual analysis: certification of each cylinder for the highest specification grade.

Gas is supplied in cylinders equipped with BS3 valves. Recommended control equipment includes:

• Pressure regulators: two-stage (model R300, R500) and single-stage (R400), brass, high-purity.
• Manifolds: single-wing (M1000) and two-wing manual (M2000) or automatic changeover (M3000).

Main Results and Discussion

The Experis argon portfolio comprises four grades:

• Technical Argon (99.998% purity): O₂ < 3 ppm, H₂O < 1 ppm.
• Argon Premier 5.2 (99.9992%): O₂ < 1.5 ppm, N₂ < 4 ppm, H₂O < 2 ppm.
• Argon BIP® 6.0 (99.9999%): O₂ < 0.01 ppm, N₂ < 1 ppm, H₂O < 0.02 ppm.
• Argon BIP® Plus 6.6 (99.99996%): O₂ < 0.01 ppm, N₂ < 0.3 ppm, H₂O < 0.02 ppm.

Physical properties common to all grades include a molecular weight of 39.95, boiling point –185.9 °C, and gas density 1.662 g/L at 20 °C.
BIP technology integrates an on-cylinder purifier that removes residual oxygen and moisture, achieving impurity levels below 10 parts per billion H₂O and 20 parts per billion O₂. This eliminates the need for external purifiers, reducing capital and maintenance costs and preventing analyzer downtime.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The advanced purity of Argon BIP Plus enhances analytical performance by:

• Minimizing spectral interferences and carbon deposits in ICP and ICP-MS analyses.
• Protecting cooled-chip technologies from water damage.
• Ensuring consistent, ‘chimney-free’ cylinder supply and maximizing useable gas volume.

Applications span research laboratories, quality control, semiconductor manufacturing, and any process demanding inert environments with ultra-low impurity levels.

Future Trends and Applications

Continuous improvements in on-cylinder purification, real-time impurity monitoring, and integration with digital asset management are expected. Development of compact UHP gas packs and expansion of purified gas mixtures tailored to emerging analytical and industrial needs will further enhance process reliability and environmental sustainability.

Conclusion

Air Products’ Experis UHP argon series, supported by proprietary BIP technology, offers exceptionally low impurity levels, comprehensive verification, and flexible packaging. These features deliver reliable, high-performance gas for critical analytical and process control applications, while reducing operational complexity and costs.

References

No external literature references were provided in the specification document.