Nitrogen has many applications in material processing and manufacturing because it’s an inert gas. In annealing, nitrogen creates a protective atmosphere around a material to prevent oxidation and decarburization that can disrupt the finish’s quality. Cold spraying is another manufacturing process where nitrogen is essential. Nitrogen can be cooled to a low temperature, which causes metal powder to bond to a surface.
This gas is also used for autoclave inerting. Autoclaves are heated to high temperatures to contain chemical reactions and high-pressure processes. Nitrogen is used inside these devices to prevent the combustion of materials and remove any combustible gases from the atmosphere.
