Helium is inert and the least soluble of all gases in liquids and is therefore used as a pressurization. Being inert, helium is used as a constituent in neutral atmospheres e.g., in heat treatment applications requiring a protective atmosphere.

Helium is used extensively in the welding industry as an inert shielding gas for arc welding. It is also used in conjunction with helium (“leak”) detectors to test the integrity of fabricated components and systems.

Applications

Fiber Optic

Helium is used as a combined cooling and shielding medium for the pulling of optical fibres.

Nuclear Reaction

Helium is used for cooling of uranium rods in nuclear reactors.

Atmospheric Research

Helium is used to fill large balloons for upper atmosphere and cosmic ray studies. Small helium balloons are used by weather forecasters to carry meteorological instruments.

Tunnel Work

Helium is used as a propellant in the “helium cannon” used in model firing tunnels. It also finds use as a working gas in some hypersonic wind tunnels.

Semiconductors

Helium is used as a carrier gas or as a purge gas for a variety of semiconductor processes. Helium is also used for epitaxial crystal growth (inert atmosphere).

Calibration Gas

Helium is used as a calibration gas and a balance gas in calibration mixtures. It is also used as carrier gas in gas chromatography. It is used as a purge gas and a zero (span) gas for analytical instruments.

Heat Treatment

Helium is also used for vacuum breaking in heat treatment furnaces.

Airbags

Helium is also used as airbag inflating gas in high pressure capsules.