Lawrence Haynes | 7 minutes | 08/28/2026

What Is Methane?

Methane is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas made of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms, written CH₄. It’s the simplest hydrocarbon, the first member of the alkane family, and the main component of natural gas. The four hydrogens sit at the corners of a tetrahedron around the carbon, which makes the molecule symmetrical …

Tyler O'Brien | 5 minutes | 07/29/2026

What Is Industrial Grade CO2?

Industrial grade CO₂ is carbon dioxide gas produced and purified to meet specific quality standards for use in manufacturing, processing, and general industrial applications. It’s one of several purity grades of CO₂ on the market, and it’s the workhorse version that shows up in everything from welding operations to water treatment plants. If you’re sourcing …

Tyler O'Brien | 5 minutes | 07/23/2026

What Gases Are Used in Semiconductor Manufacturing?

Nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, silane, ammonia, and various fluorinated compounds are used in semiconductor manufacturing. Each one plays a specific role in building the microscopic circuits that power everything from smartphones to industrial equipment. What Bulk Gases Are Used in Chip Fabrication? Bulk gases form the backbone of any fab’s daily operations. Nitrogen tops the list, …

Lawrence Haynes | 7 minutes | 07/22/2026

What Is Sulfur Hexafluoride Used For?

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) is used mostly as an electrical insulating gas, with smaller roles in eye surgery, ultrasound imaging, semiconductor etching, and leak tracing. Roughly 80% of all SF₆ produced goes to the electric power industry. WestAir supplies sulfur hexafluoride across California and Arizona. What Properties Make Sulfur Hexafluoride Useful? Nearly every SF₆ application comes …

Nick Vasco | 5 minutes | 07/22/2026

What Is Liquid CO2 Used For?

Explore the diverse applications of liquid CO2, from food production to chemical manufacturing. Learn how this versatile substance powers various sectors.

Lawrence Haynes | 8 minutes | 07/22/2026

What Is Neon Used For?

Neon is used in signs and lighting, high-voltage indicators, cryogenic refrigeration, deep-sea diving equipment, laser systems, semiconductor manufacturing, and emerging technologies like quantum computing and aerospace. Most people hear “neon” and picture a buzzing bar sign. Fair enough. That’s the famous one. But neon does so much more than that.  WestAir supplies neon across California …

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, …

Lawrence Haynes | 3 minutes | 07/16/2026

Is Krypton Rare?

Yes, krypton is rare. It makes up about 1.14 parts per million of air by volume, or roughly one krypton atom for every million molecules of air around it. That works out to 0.0001% of the atmosphere. It isn’t the rarest gas on Earth, though. Xenon is scarcer, at about 0.087 parts per million, which …

Lawrence Haynes | 4 minutes | 07/16/2026

Why Is Nitrogen Used in the Pharmaceutical Industry?

Nitrogen is used across pharmaceutical manufacturing because it keeps oxygen and moisture away from drugs that degrade on contact with either. It shields reactions, clears equipment, fills the space above a sealed dose, and freezes biological material for storage. This one gas covers all of it, which is why it shows up at nearly every …

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 …

Lawrence Haynes | 6 minutes | 07/16/2026

How Long Do Neon Signs Last?

Neon signs typically last 8 to 15 years with proper care and maintenance. The signs that hit 15 years aren’t built from magic glass. They’re well-supplied and well-maintained, and both of those things are under your control. WestAir supplies neon across California and Arizona. What Actually Determines a Neon Sign’s Lifespan? Gas purity, electrode quality, …