Used as a carrier/purge gas for a range of analytical instruments including: Flame Ionization Detector (FID), Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD), Electron Capture Detector (ECD), Flame Photometric Detector (FPD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.
Odourless and colourless. Non-toxic. Does not support combustion. An asphyxiant (does not support life). Non-reactive except at very high temperatures. Does not react with oxygen at low temperatures. Inert, dry and slightly soluble.