Rare Gases: Neon, Krypton and Xenon  [ Return to  Products & Services  ]

Xenon is used in medical imaging and is now considered to possibly be the “ideal anesthetic” due to its minimal adverse affects on the body during surgery as well as its low impact on the environment. Toward this end, Air Liquide is developing innovative technologies to help make xenon more cost-effective for this beneficial application.

Ion engines are becoming the preferred means of providing electric propulsion in spacecraft. Most satellites launched into orbit now use this technology for station-keeping, orbit-raising or primary propulsion. 

Xenon is preferred for use in ion engines and Hall Effect Technology due to its high ionization potential, low heat capacity and high density. In addition, because of xenon’s high molecular weight, it improves satellite specific impulse performance, which is the ratio of engine thrust over weight flow.

Xenon and krypton are used with other gases in incandescent filament or discharge bulbs to improve brightness, intensity, service life and color. The first modern neon sign debuted in 1910 in Paris and was created by Georges Claude, cofounder of Air Liquide.

Xenon is a preferred filling gas in High Intensity Discharge light bulbs for environmental reasons, compared to mercury or metal halides. And as compared to halogen automotive headlights, HID lamps filled with xenon offer higher intensity, longer service life and superior color.

Air Liquide has actively partnered with window manufacturers to help develop innovative technologies that improve thermal and sound insulation characteristics of windows. Krypton is a better thermal insulator than air because it is three times less conductive. Its high density also reduces convection effects, which further improves thermal insulation performance. Accordingly, krypton performs 50% better than air as a sound insulator.

Air Liquide is the world leader in rare gases, with the largest sourcing capability and a well established supply chain to ensure reliable, on-time delivery of products to our customers. Our rare gas facilities employ leading-edge technologies and advanced analytical equipment to produce customer-specific rare gas products. These range from “standard” purity to ultra-high purity for industrial, medical, electronics and aerospace applications.