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Rare Gases: Xenon and Krypton

EFC Gases & Advanced Materials has more than twenty years experience supplying high purity krypton and xenon for demanding applications in the aerospace, semiconductor, lighting, and window manufacturing industries. We have dedicated specialists ready to provide you with the rare gas and related equipment your application requires.

EFC Gases & Advanced Materials > Blog > Rare Gases: Xenon and Krypton

Xenon

Xenon is a colorless, odorless, noble gas. Xenon is found in the atmosphere at 87 parts per billion. Like other rare gases, xenon is produced by using cryogenic distillation to extract it from the air. Electronic Fluorocarbons is a leading supplier of rare gases, including xenon, with established global supply chains to ensure reliable delivery.

Our production plant in Hatfield, PA uses sophisticated technology to produce and analyze xenon and xenon blends meeting specific customer requirements. We have a lab with sophisticated analytical capabilities to monitor in-process xenon and the quality of outgoing product. We have an experienced quality team and robust quality process to ensure that the most exacting standards, including those of the semiconductor and aerospace industries, are met.

Xenon is used in a wide variety of applications. It is a component of excimer laser mixes to produce certain wavelengths (282nm XeBr, 308nm XeCl, 351nm XeF). Xenon is used in radiation detectors, that are designed to measure X-rays and gamma-rays. It is used in sputter deposition, especially when depositing coatings with high molecular weights.

Xenon is used as a propellant for satellites and other spacecraft. It is used for production of semiconductors in annealing, etching and lithography applications. Xenon is used in halogen and HID lighting. Xenon even has some medical applications, including uses to enhance MRI imaging or as anesthesia. Xenon recovered from customer applications can often be purified for reuse.

There are a number of applications where xenon is used, but not used up. The used xenon can be captured, purified and reused. The xenon is purified to meet the same specifications as the virgin material. This recovery offers the potential for reduced costs, and increased security of supply. EFC offers xenon recovery systems that collect used xenon at customer sites.

image showing a light from aerospace manufacturing products

Krypton

Krypton is a colorless, odorless, noble gas. Krypton is found in the atmosphere at one part per million. Like other rare gases, krypton is produced by using cryogenic distillation to extract it from the air.

EFC is a leading supplier of rare gases, including krypton, with established global supply chains to ensure reliable delivery.

Our production facility in Hatfield, PA uses sophisticated technology to produce and analyze krypton and krypton blends meeting specific customer requirements.

We have a lab with sophisticated analytical capabilities to monitor in-process krypton and the quality of outgoing product. We have an experienced quality team and robust quality process to ensure that Krypton is used in a wide variety of applications. Much krypton is used for window insulation. It insulates better than argon or air when put between the panes of double or triple pane windows.  It is a component of excimer laser mixes to produce certain wavelengths (222nm KrCl, 248 nm KrF). It is used in sputter deposition, especially when depositing coatings with higher molecular weights. Krypton is used as a propellant for satellites and other spacecraft. Krypton is used in halogen and HID lighting. It is used for production of semiconductors in annealing, etching and lithography applications. Krypton recovered from customer applications can often be purified for reuse.

There are a number of applications where krypton is used, but not used up, as well. The excess krypton can be captured, purified and reused to meet the same specifications as the virgin material. Recovery offers the potential for reduced costs, and increased security of supply. EFC offers krypton recovery systems that collect used krypton at customer sites.