Helium gas
| Proper Shipping Name: Helium Compressed | |||
| UN NO. | UN 1046 | ||
| Hazard labels | 2.2-Non-flammable gas | ||
| CAS NO. | 7440-59-7 | ||
| Helium is a highly specialized product.It is chemically inert and non-flammable,with high thermal conductivity,low molecular weight and size,and the lowest boiling point known. | |||
| PRODUCT NAME | PURITY | ||
| Helium gas | 99.9% | ||
| Helium gas | 99.9999% | ||
Helium Gas is used as an inert-gas atmosphere for welding metals such as aluminum; in rocket propulsion
(to pressurize fuel tanks, especially those for liquid hydrogen, because only helium is still a gas at liquid-hydrogen temperature);
in meteorology (as a lifting gas for instrument-carrying balloons); in cryogenics (as a coolant because liquid helium is the coldest substance);
and in high-pressure breathing operations (mixed with oxygen, as in scuba diving and caisson work, especially because of its low solubility in the bloodstream).
Meteorites and rocks have been analyzed for helium content as a means of dating.
Since Russia and Ukraine are collectively one of the largest exporters of helium and neon gasses, this is a problem. For helium, the U.S. is by far the largest producer. Other large producers are Qatar, Algeria, and Russia.
