Nitrogen is used for two main purposes – to prevent fire or explosion and to prevent oxidation.

Oxygen sensitive products can be blanketed, storage vessels inerted, liquids and powders propelled through pipework and packaged using nitrogen to exclude ambient air containing oxygen.

Products include –

• Inks, dyes, paints, and varnishes, Solvents, chemicals, and powders.

Resins used for composite materials such as carbon fibre, Kevlar and glass reinforced plastic.

The table below indicates the minimum oxygen concentration (MOC) at which some typical chemicals will catch fire. If the oxygen content is kept below this value by keeping the product blanketed with nitrogen, then a fire or explosion will not occur.