6. Nitrogen-based atmospheres

6.1 General information on industrial nitrogen and its means of production

Since the invention of cryogenic gas separation by Georges Claude in 1902, developments in nitrogen supply methods have led to its widespread use in industry, thanks to its lower cost and ease of use.

For many years, bottled delivery limited the use of nitrogen to laboratories or to very special cases where the need for quality dictated its use.

Deliveries in liquid form in the 1950s-1960s reduced distribution costs and enabled the heat treatment industry to benefit from the use of high-purity gases.

The construction of pipeline networks in highly industrialized regions (Northern France, Benelux, Ruhr, etc.) has made it possible to supply...