Author: Tyler O'Brien

Tyler O'Brien | 4 minutes | 07/20/2026

What Is Medical Grade CO2?

Medical grade CO₂ is carbon dioxide gas that’s been purified to meet USP (United States Pharmacopeia) standards for use in clinical and healthcare settings. It’s held to a much tighter purity spec than the CO₂ used in industrial applications, and that difference matters more than many people realize. If you’re sourcing gas for a hospital, …

Tyler O'Brien | 7 minutes | 07/16/2026

What Is Helium? The Complete Guide to the Element and Its Uses

Helium is a colorless, odorless gas with the chemical symbol He and atomic number 2. It’s the lightest of the noble gases and the second-lightest element overall, sitting right after hydrogen. Helium is completely inert and colder as a liquid than anything else in existence, which is why it turns up in medical scanners, leak-testing …

Tyler O'Brien | 4 minutes | 07/16/2026

Can You MIG Weld Without Gas?

Yes, you can MIG weld without gas, but not by running standard solid wire with the gas turned off. That gives you weak, porous welds every time. Real gasless MIG welding means switching to self-shielded flux-cored wire, which carries its own shielding inside the wire and doesn’t require a separate gas cylinder. WestAir supplies gas …

Tyler O'Brien | 5 minutes | 07/16/2026

Why Is Liquid Hydrogen Used as Rocket Fuel?

Liquid hydrogen (LH₂) is used as rocket fuel because it delivers the highest specific impulse (Isp) of any practical chemical rocket fuel, producing more thrust per pound burned than any other option. Paired with liquid oxygen as the oxidizer, it powers upper stages and deep-space missions where every pound of fuel counts. WestAir supplies liquid …

Tyler O'Brien | 5 minutes | 07/15/2026

What Is Beverage Grade CO2?

Beverage grade CO₂ is carbon dioxide purified to meet strict food safety standards, making it safe to carbonate sodas, beer, seltzer, and other drinks people consume directly. Unlike industrial CO₂ used for welding shields or dry ice blasting, beverage grade CO₂ has to meet specifications set out in the ISBT (International Society of Beverage Technologists) …

Tyler O'Brien | 4 minutes | 07/13/2026

What Gases Are Used in Laboratories?

Laboratories rely on nitrogen, helium, argon, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide to keep research, testing, and analysis running smoothly. They each serve a specific purpose depending on the equipment and application. Why Is Nitrogen the Workhorse Gas in Most Labs? Nitrogen is the most commonly used gas in laboratories because it’s inert, affordable, and incredibly versatile. …

Tyler O'Brien | 5 minutes | 07/10/2026

Liquid Nitrogen Dewar Sizes: Choosing the Right Size for Your Application

The right liquid nitrogen (LN₂) dewar size comes down to two things: how much LN₂ your operation actually goes through, and how much room you have for the container. Most lab and medical dewars run from about 4 liters up to 50 liters, and choosing within that range is mostly a matter of matching capacity …

Tyler O'Brien | 4 minutes | 07/08/2026

What Is Nitrogen Flushing?

Nitrogen flushing is a preservation method that replaces oxygen inside packaging with nitrogen gas to extend shelf life and maintain product quality. The process pushes out oxygen before sealing, creating an inert atmosphere that prevents oxidation, spoilage, and bacterial growth. You’ll find nitrogen flushing everywhere from your morning coffee bag to pharmaceuticals. It’s the reason …

Tyler O'Brien | 6 minutes | 07/01/2026

What Is a Liquid Nitrogen Dewar?

A liquid nitrogen dewar is a specialized vacuum-insulated container designed to store and transport liquid nitrogen at its temperature of -196°C (-321°F). It was named after Scottish scientist Sir James Dewar, who invented the vacuum flask in 1892. How Does a Dewar Keep Liquid Nitrogen Cold? The key to a dewar’s effectiveness lies in its …

Tyler O'Brien | 5 minutes | 07/01/2026

Is Hydrogen Flammable?

Yes, hydrogen is highly flammable. It takes almost no energy to ignite, it burns across an unusually wide range of concentrations, and its flame is nearly invisible in daylight. That combination is what makes hydrogen trickier to handle safely than most fuel gases. WestAir supplies hydrogen across California and Arizona. Why Is Hydrogen Gas Flammable? …

Tyler O'Brien | 6 minutes | 06/30/2026

What Is a Pyrophoric Gas?

A pyrophoric gas ignites spontaneously the moment it touches air, with no spark, flame, or outside heat needed. Room temperature is enough to set it off. These gases react so aggressively with the oxygen and moisture in ordinary air that the reaction releases enough heat to ignite the gas on the spot. That one trait …

Tyler O'Brien | 4 minutes | 06/11/2026

How Much CO₂ Is In Beer?

If you’ve ever stared at a freshly poured pint and watched the bubbles race to the top, you’ve witnessed some surprisingly complex physics in action. A 2021 study published in ACS Omega by researchers at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne set out to answer a deceptively simple question: how many CO₂ bubbles actually form in …