Argon tank car

[sirenwerks]

Any of you contemporary modelers seeking new tank cars see the latest addition to TrainCat's model line? An 'argon tank car'. Not sure of the exact prototype of this car, but it looks nice from the photo.

What sort of industries actually receive tank car shipments in cars such as this? Light bulb manufacturers? Welding suppliers? Steel making (what part)? Electronics manufacturing?

[asciibaron]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argon#Applications

Argon, what can't it do  ;D

-Steve

[ljudice]

My brother-in-law is an engineer for one of the industrial gas companies, so I can see if I can get a specific answer if you need one - but I am pretty certain that they use tank cars to move large volumes to distribution centers where it is broken up into smaller quantities and delivered to customers.

[Walkercolt]

Argon is big for welding, and some other things. AirGas down the street from me gets railway tankcars sent to Cherokee Yard and downloads it to tank trucks. So does Air Liquide the other way down the same street. Your bags of beef jerkey are filled with argon and most cans of nuts to displace oxygen and preserve freshness. "Heli-Arc" welding usually uses argon rather than helium to displace the oxygen....cheaper and easier to handle.

[Ntrainz1]

Argon used to de-gas molten aluminum.

Bob.