Krypton (Kr)
A colorless, odorless, nonflammable gas. These applications take advantage of krypton’s inertness, low ionization and high atomic mass.
Krypton
Formula: Kr
CAS No: 74390-90-9
What is Krypton Gas?
Krypton (Kr) is a rare gas belonging to Group 18 (noble gases) of the periodic table, which forms relatively few chemical compounds. Krypton gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, occurring in trace amounts in the atmosphere.
Industry Applications for Krypton
As a noble gas, krypton is used in a wide variety of applications that take advantage of its low ionization energy and high atomic mass.
Window Insulation
Krypton is extensively used for window insulation. It insulates better than argon or air when placed between the panes of double or triple-pane windows. Krypton provides lower U-factors (higher R-values) with the same window design. Additionally, it allows for high-performance designs with thin spacings between panes.
Lighting Applications
Krypton’s physical and chemical properties make it useful in various lighting applications. It is used in incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and high-intensity discharge lamps.
Excimer Lasers
Krypton is a component of excimer laser mixes to produce certain wavelengths. It is a required component in the gas mixes used to produce 222 nm (KrCl) and 248 nm (KrF) UV light.
Sputter Deposition
Krypton is used in sputter deposition, a type of physical vapor deposition. It offers advantages when depositing coatings with higher molecular weights. Although more expensive than argon, krypton provides a higher yield and better quality coatings when used with heavier atoms. It is often used for sputter coating heavier coatings such as titanium.
Space Propulsion
Krypton is used as a propellant for satellites and other spacecraft. It is a preferred propellant for electric propulsion systems. Thrusters ionize and expel krypton using electrical or magnetic fields at high velocities, providing in-space propulsion that is much more efficient than conventional chemical propulsion. These high velocities mean that a small amount of propellant goes a long way.
Semiconductor Production
Krypton is utilized in the production of semiconductors for annealing, etching, and lithography applications. It acts as both a surface disruption agent and a plasma modulator, influencing plasma composition through secondary ionization. Historically, argon was used for these purposes due to its lower cost and availability. However, krypton provides additional capabilities for selectively influencing ions present in the plasma.
Applications
Specifications
Further Specifications
Cylinder Sizes
- Used in incandescent lamps, mixed with nitrogen and argon or nitrogen, argon and xenon. Used in mixtures with argon as a filling gas for fluorescent tubes. Used as a filling gas for various halogen lamps, such as those used in cars, on airfields and in low voltage display lamps.
- Used to obtain brain X-ray pictures.
- Used as a triggering agent in discharge type electronic tubes.
- Used as an insulation gas in windows to reduce noise and heat transfer.
- Used for certain ion and excimer lasers.
- Krypton is also used for mass spectrometry and specific area measurements in adsorption applications.
FAQs about Krypton
What is the best gas for window insulation?
What is the best gas for window insulation?
What industries use Krypton (Kr) gas?
What industries use Krypton (Kr) gas?
Moisture level guaranteed only when EFC Gases & Advanced Materials prepares the cylinders.
All concentrations are on a mol/mol basis unless otherwise stated. Product sold on the basis of total impurities. Individual impurities may vary slightly.
