Metal Production and Mining

In mining, nitrogen can create an inert environment underground. Oxygen and methane increase over time in underground areas, and both gases are highly flammable. Pumping nitrogen into sealed workspaces reduces the atmosphere’s flammability and protects workers from explosions.

In metalworking, nitrogen is used for annealing. This process increases a metal’s ductility while reducing hardness. Annealing is essential for producing metals that will not crack under pressure and can be easily shaped. Nitrogen also creates an inert atmosphere around furnaces to prevent explosions.

Learn More

Mining operations use carbon dioxide to create inert atmospheres in sealed mining areas. Current developments surrounding CO2 also see the gas as a means of streamlining the mining process. Carbon dioxide can weaken rock that contains carbon by breaking down the structure. In doing so, mining becomes less energy-intensive.

Learn More

Oxygen is essential for the steelmaking process. In the basic oxygen process (BOP), high-purity oxygen is blown into a furnace containing molten iron and other metal scraps. The oxygen causes a reaction that releases high heat and oxidizes impurities in the batch. By reducing impurities like sulfur and carbon, steelmakers create steel with improved strength and corrosion resistance.

Learn More

Argon is used alongside oxygen in argon oxygen decarburization (AOD). During this process, liquid metal is injected with an argon-oxygen gas mixture. With the argon diluting the oxygen, only a small amount of alloy is oxidized. Carbon levels drop, and more argon is added to the vessel of liquid metal. Then, argon removes hydrogen and nitrogen for higher-purity steel.

Learn More