Re: Helium

From: jbuch (jbuch_at_CUTHERErevealed.net)
Date: 11/21/04 

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 22:48:04 -0600

jitney wrote:

> Besides which, alternatives are available for many applications,
> such as argon for inert gas applications.(snip)
>
> Some, but not all. Argon will not work for gas shielding on welding
> aluminum, for instance. The argon shielded arc is too hot and scatters
> too easily.
>
> I wonder if a partial substitution of hydrogen in dirigibles would be
> safe.(Suppose around 10% hydrogen/90% helium?). Some recent research
> indicates that the real problem on the Hindenburg was the aluminized
> skin more than the hydrogen. Besides, many dirigibles are unmanned and
> used in unpopulated areas (weather balloons come to mind). We should
> certainly try to extend our finite supply as long as possible.-Jitney

A very long time ago, I THOUGHT that I had indirect evidence that helium
would permeate a certain ceramic material in a certain crystallographic
orientation at temperatures near room temperature. If this wild
conjecture were true, than I calculated that it would be possible to
extract Helium from the atmosphere in spite of the very low concentration.

Is the helium supply getting stretched thin today where these old
conjectures should be examined?

At the time, there were abundant supplies from certain natural gas
wells, but that was quite some time ago.

Jim 

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Helium
    ... Argon will not work for gas shielding on welding ... > aluminum, for instance. ...
    (sci.chem)
  • Re: AlAr - Aluminum-Argon Fuel?
    ... Interesting, Aluminum-Argon, after the argon falls off (very nice ... the aluminum is available to be burned with oxygen. ... Preflably, from the atmosphere. ... Exothermic would be nice, adding energy. ...
    (sci.space.tech)
  • Re: Use of argon in heat treating oven + going from 120V to 240
    ... You would hook the heating element between the two hot legs to get 240 ... volts. ... I have not used argon for an inert atmosphere, ... keep putting in some gas to keep any oxygen out. ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: Boy, am I in the wrong line of work .........
    ... whether propane or natural gas would be quite similar. ... an aluminum pot or pan as well. ... The electric range MELTED a hole in the bottom of the kettle. ... Under a kettle on a gas burner isn't exactly "confined", ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Mixing your own welding gasses questions
    ... Pure argon and what's known as C25, which is 75% argon and 25% ... He said that lots of folks use straight CO2 instead of C25. ... foot than a mixed gas. ... could mix my own gasses and he said yeah, ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)