NITROGEN GAS (N₂)

Nitrogen is present everywhere and is well-known to us. However, industrially applied nitrogen exhibits properties that differ from the nitrogen naturally present in the air. Let Viet Nga Specialty Gases Joint Stock Company guide you through its characteristics and applications.

1. Introduction to nitrogen gas

Gaseous nitrogen is quickly produced by warming liquid nitrogen to induce evaporation. It has numerous applications, including serving as an inert substitute for air when oxidation is undesirable, such as in preserving the freshness of packaged or bulk foods (by slowing rancidity and oxidative degradation) and covering liquid explosives to ensure safety.

Nitrogen is also widely used in:

• Electronics manufacturing: for components such as transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits (ICs).

• Stainless steel production and inflation of automobile and aircraft tires, due to its inertness and absence of moisture or oxidative properties, unlike air (although this is less critical for standard automobiles).

Contrary to some beliefs, nitrogen permeates rubber tires no slower than air, as air itself consists primarily of nitrogen and oxygen (N₂ and O₂), and nitrogen molecules are smaller under equal conditions, smaller molecules diffuse faster through porous materials.

Another versatile application is using nitrogen gas (often as a preferred alternative to CO₂) to pressurize certain beer kegs, particularly strong stouts and British or Scottish ales, as nitrogen produces less foam, yielding a smoother, heavier beer. A notable example of nitrogen-dosed beer in cans or bottles is Guinness Draught.

2. Liquid nitrogen (LN₂)

Liquid nitrogen is produced on an industrial scale through fractional distillation of liquefied air and is commonly abbreviated as LN₂. It is an extremely cold cryogenic agent, capable of instantly freezing living tissue upon contact.

When properly insulated from ambient heat, it serves as a portable source of gaseous nitrogen without the need for compression. Its extraordinary cooling capacity—boiling at 77 K (-196°C or -320°F)—makes it highly valuable in various applications, including:

• Refrigerated food transport

• Preservation of biological samples, including organs, sperm, eggs, and tissue specimens

• Cryogenic research

• Educational demonstrations

• Dermatology, for removing warts, calluses, and potentially malignant skin lesions

Liquid nitrogen is also used as a cooling medium to overclock CPUs, GPUs, and other hardware components.

Due to its extremely low temperature (~-196°C), it can destroy living tissues upon direct exposure.

Contact Viet Nga today to purchase high-quality nitrogen gas at the best market price.