Helium Applications

Because it is inert, helium is used as a protective shielding atmosphere in metals welding, cutting and melting processes, in rocketry as a medium to displace rocket fuel and oxidizers in storage tank, in airships and balloons inflating, as a medium of the helium-neon laser. Helium-3 is used in neutron detectors as well as in leakage indicators.

At extremely low temperatures, liquid helium, as a unique refrigerating agent is used in experimental physics, for example to produce superconductivity. For its low solubility in water, the major part of human blood, air mixtures of helium with oxygen and nitrogen, with oxygen only, with common air, are used in deep-sea breathing systems to reduce the high-pressure risk of Nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness, and oxygen toxicity.