ARGON 5/2 SWAP

ARGON 5/2 is a mixture of 5% Carbon Dioxide & 2% Oxygen with 93% Argon, and is suitable for welding of low thickness samples by enabling spray transfer of the weld materials during the inert gas welding.

Being inert wrt breathing purposes, it is an asphyxiant and must not be inhaled as the 2% Oxygen content is a small fraction of the 21% Oxygen in the air we breathe.

In addition, the 5% Carbon Dioxide component is well over the maximum recommended average exposure level for a healthy employee during an eight hour working shift for 0.5 % (5,000 ppm). This component will have what is referred to as an ‘Intoxication’ effect which coupled with the Argon asphyxiant could raidly lead to a fatality as the normal 21% Oxygen will be depleted & the typical 0.3% Carbon Dioxide will be greatly exceeded.

 Hazards

ARGON 5/2 is a mixture of 5% Carbon Dioxide & 2% Oxygen with 93% Argon  and for all intents & purposes behaves like Argon if breathed instead of air, so it is effectively an asphyxiant.

In addition, the ‘Intoxication’ effect of Carbon Dioxide makes for a ‘more than’ non breathable combination.

In confined poorly ventilated spaces, if allowed to build up and displace the air being breathed, will In high concentrations cause asphyxiation.

Initial symptoms include loss of mobility followed by loss of consciousness.

The affected person will most likely neither sense nor  be aware of this which makes it essential that such a situation is to be avoided.

It is however non-toxic and non-flammable.