The alamist mainstream take: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/12/rus...lts-half-of-worlds-neon-output-for-chips.html
There have been shortages before: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cen-09410-notw7
Iceblick, Cryoin and Ingas are 70% of the (high purity) neon supply: https://www.datacenterknowledge.com...stry-should-worry-about-potential-war-ukraine
"Available stocks and supplies are already proving insufficient for current demand levels." https://www.tomshardware.com/news/g...ors-threatened-by-russian-invasion-of-ukraine
Interesting PDF about fractional distillation: https://rdmathis.com/wp-content/upl..._Gases_to_High_Purity_rev2Tech_Sheet_3_-1.pdf
" All of the inert gases can be fractionally distilled from the air. However, in the United States helium gas is distilled as a by-product from the liquification of natural gas in certain Texas wells."
"The process is convenient only for helium gas. Other inert gases require special cryogenic facilities to keep from liquefying the inert gas while removing the reactive gases."
Asianometry has a good youtube video on the shortage:
It would sure be nice if the world would stop ending. However, in the post-world world, the US may need to be more self-sufficient and reshore supply chains. That may mean more air separation unit (ASU) direct air neon, more neon byproduct from LNG, more recycling, or other, probably expensive, measure.
There have been shortages before: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cen-09410-notw7
Iceblick, Cryoin and Ingas are 70% of the (high purity) neon supply: https://www.datacenterknowledge.com...stry-should-worry-about-potential-war-ukraine
"Available stocks and supplies are already proving insufficient for current demand levels." https://www.tomshardware.com/news/g...ors-threatened-by-russian-invasion-of-ukraine
Interesting PDF about fractional distillation: https://rdmathis.com/wp-content/upl..._Gases_to_High_Purity_rev2Tech_Sheet_3_-1.pdf
" All of the inert gases can be fractionally distilled from the air. However, in the United States helium gas is distilled as a by-product from the liquification of natural gas in certain Texas wells."
"The process is convenient only for helium gas. Other inert gases require special cryogenic facilities to keep from liquefying the inert gas while removing the reactive gases."
Asianometry has a good youtube video on the shortage:
It would sure be nice if the world would stop ending. However, in the post-world world, the US may need to be more self-sufficient and reshore supply chains. That may mean more air separation unit (ASU) direct air neon, more neon byproduct from LNG, more recycling, or other, probably expensive, measure.
Last edited: