This section provides an overview for argon as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 argon manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked argon companies as of November, 2024: 1.Oxygen Service Company, Inc., 2.Pune Air Products, 3.Tirupati Oxygen Private Limited.
Table of Contents
Argon is the third most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere, after nitrogen and oxygen, except for water vapor.
It belongs to group 18 of the periodic table of elements and is called noble gas. However, it is also called "rare gas" due to its age when it was chemically difficult to separate and extract.
Argon is present in the atmosphere at about 0.93%. Among the noble gases, argon has the largest ratio in air. In modern times, argon is obtained by cooling air to a cryogenic temperature of about -200°C and separating it from nitrogen and oxygen.
Argon is widely used in manufacturing as an inert gas because it does not react easily with other substances. A typical application is as a shielding gas for welding.
By using a shielding gas consisting of Argon plus a few percent of oxygen, the arc can be focused locally, enabling high-quality welding processes. Argon is also often used as an atmospheric gas in the manufacture of silicon wafers, the material used in semiconductor substrates.
Using an inert gas atmosphere that does not react easily with other substances, it is also possible to produce high-quality silicon with a purity of 99.99%. Argon is also widely used as an atmospheric gas in refining furnaces for manufacturing stainless steel.
At room temperature and pressure, argon is a colorless, odorless gas. It is called an inert gas because it does not easily cause chemical reactions with other substances. Its triple point is 83.8058K.
Argon is a noble gas of group 18, one of the third periodic elements, with the element symbol Ar and atomic weight 39.95. It has no valence electrons in its outermost shell and satisfies the octet rule, making it chemically stable in structure. The electron configuration is [Ne] 3s2 3p6.
Specific gravity is 1.65 in the solid state at -233°C and 1.39 in the liquid state at -186°C. Specific gravity relative to air is 1.38. In the solid state, it has a face-centered cubic structure.
Most argon on Earth has a mass number of 40 (40Ar) and was formed by the decay of potassium-40 (40K) in the earth's crust. 40Ar has a half-life of 1.25 x 109 years. On the other hand, Argon-36 (36Ar) is the most abundant isotope in the universe and was produced by supernova explosions. There are three stable isotopes of Argon: 36Ar, 38Ar, and 40Ar.
Fractional distillation of liquid air will yield a single unit of argon. Besides repeated fractional distillation, argon can be purified by fractional adsorption with activated carbon, heating with alkali metals, gas chromatography, and fractional evaporation.
There are 25 known isotopes of argon. In the Earth's atmosphere, 40Ar is by far the most abundant.
39Ar and 40Ar are produced by the action of cosmic rays. On the Earth's surface, 39Ar is produced by neutron capture of 39K and other processes. The measured percentage of39Ar in natural argon is (8.0 ± 0.6) x 10-16 g/g.
In addition, atmospheric nuclear testing produces 37Ar, which has a half-life of 35 days. The fraction of 42Ar in the Earth's atmosphere is about 6 x 10-21.
Because the single atoms of argon satisfy the octet rule, for a long time, there were no known compounds of argon bound to other atoms. In 2000, however, argon fluorohydride was synthesized for the first time. The chemical formula is HArF, which can be synthesized by mixing argon, hydrogen fluoride, and cesium iodide and irradiating the mixture with ultraviolet light at 7.5K.
Argon fluorohydride is stable below -256°C, but above -256°C, it decomposes into argon and hydrogen fluoride. Argon does not form stable inclusion compounds, except for hydrate crystals and quinol molecular compounds.
Specifically, it forms 8Ar-46H2O with water and the inclusion compound Ar-3C6H4(OH)2 with hydroquinone.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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American Gas Products, headquartered in Everett, Massachusetts, USA, was established in 1978 as a distributor and supplier of industrial, medical, and specialty gases. The company has established a national network to meet gas requirements efficiently. They operate fill stations and wells, ensuring a readily available supply of an array of industrial gases. Among the products offered are oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, acetylene, medical-grade gases, as well as various specialty gases utilized in specific applications such as calibration gases and gas mixtures.
Established in 2013, Pune Air Products operates as a manufacturer and supplier of Industrial Gases in India. Their product portfolio encompasses Helium Gas, Argon CO2 Mixture, Nitrogen Gas, Fire Extinguisher, Argon Gas, Gas Manifolds, Special Gases, and more. Benefiting from a modern infrastructure, Pune Air Products works on timely manufacturing and trading of high-volume products. The company's expert team ensures the supply of gases in secure, leak-proof cylinders to minimize wastage and ensure safety. Serving to environmental responsibility, the company has implemented a comprehensive environmental responsibility to minimize pollutants and industrial waste.
AXCEL Industrial Gases, headquartered in India, is a manufacturer and exporter of air and engineering products specializing in the production of industrial gases since 2000. Their product offerings encompass oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and specialty gases, meeting a wide range of customer's needs. The company serves a number of industries like refineries, petrochemicals, cement, automotive among others and is also exporting its products to overseas market. They have also developed a strong network of about 300+ industries manufacturing a big range of industrial products in the field of mechanical, electrical and plastic engineering.
Nippon Shokubai Co. LTD., established in 1941 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a chemical manufacturer providing diverse chemical materials. Some of its products include detergents, curing agents, heat-resistant resins, adhesives, and coatings for metal, and the products are used in various industries, including life science, ICT, consumer products, environment remediation, and energy. In 1941, the company started the first commercial production of Phthalic Anhydride, which led to the development of the vinyl chloride industry. It commercialized Ethylene Oxide in 1959 using domestic technologies and began mass-producing superabsorbent polymers in 1985.
Osaka Gas Liquid Co. Ltd., established in 1991 and based in Osaka, Japan, is a producer of high-pressure gases and a manufacturer of related facilities and equipment. Its hydrogen business produces and supplies hydrogen on-site by installing hydrogen equipment. The industrial gas business sells liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and other industrial gases and also manufactures equipment for supplying high-purity gases required for industries like hydrogen, nitrogen, and argon. The grinding and powder business is involved in contract grinding and drying of resins, while the carbon dioxide business produces and sells liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice.
Iwatani Corporation, estabished in 1930 in Tokyo, Japan is a manufacturer of ‘decarbonized’ energy-related products such as liquified petroleum gas, natural gas, helium and hydrogen gas. The company specializes in producing energy for commercial purposes and develops home propane gas, cassette gas-associated products, LPG, hydrogen gas, and diverse energy development products which are used in applications such as residential and commercial cooking, heating, industrial processes, and fuel for vehicles as a clean energy source for the environment.They are also engaged in various other businesses such as industrial chemicals, machinery, livestock and agricultural products.
Airgas, Inc. is an American distributor of specialty gasses and related hardgoods that was established in 1982 following parent company Air Liquide’s acquisition of Connecticut Oxygen. Based in Radnor, Pennsylvania, the company primarily offers gasses for medical and industrial applications, including argon, helium, and acetylene. It also stocks gas-related equipment such as cylinders and flowmeters, as well as welding products, safety products, and tools. Airgas chiefly serves clients in the construction, energy production, chemical processing, and life sciences sectors.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. was established in 1940 and is based in Allentown, Pennsylvania as a manufacturer and distributor of atmospheric gases. Their product range comprises natural gas liquefaction (LNG) technology and equipment, liquid fuel, epoxy additives, advanced coatings, and adhesives, used in various industrial gas projects, including gasification initiatives that sustainably transform natural resources into syngas for the creation of valuable electricity, fuels, and chemicals. Its applications consist of effluent aeration, atmosphere control, atomic absorption, spectroscopy, annealing, and catalyst regeneration. The Company operates in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, chemicals, and healthcare.
Matheson Tri-Gas is a merger between Matheson Gas Products and Tri-Gas, Inc and is a manufacturer of semiconductors, industrial cylinders, and equipment since 1927 in the United States. Matheson Tri-Gas offers industrial, specialty, and medical gases including liquids, gases, and gas mixtures in various purity grades, and different types of cylinders or containers. The company also designs and manufactures various types of gas-handling equipment such as regulators, flow meters, filters, and purifiers. Matheson's range of customers includes food, medical and biotech companies.
Linde is a global industrial gases and engineering company that was established in 1879. Their two primary areas of operation are gas (industrial and medical gases) and engineering, procurement, and construction. Located in Germany, they have office locations in 27 countries and offer services to customers in chemical and energy, food and beverage, metals and mining, and other industries. Linde's industrial gases and technologies are used to produce clean hydrogen and carbon capture systems, life-saving medical oxygen, and high-purity & speciality gases.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Oxygen Service Company, Inc. |
29.7%
|
2 | Pune Air Products |
18.9%
|
3 | Tirupati Oxygen Private Limited |
10.8%
|
4 | Iwatani Corporation |
10.8%
|
5 | American Gas Products |
8.1%
|
6 | Airgas, Inc. |
8.1%
|
7 | Linde Gases |
5.4%
|
8 | Jagdambay Sales Corporation |
2.7%
|
9 | Axcel Gases |
2.7%
|
10 | Matheson Tri-Gas |
2.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the argon page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
India | 4 | 57.1% |
United States of America | 2 | 28.6% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 14.3% |
3 products are listed.
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