Uses
Liquid nitrogen is a compact and readily transported source of nitrogen gas without pressurization. Further, its ability to maintain temperatures far below the freezing point of water makes it extremely useful in a wide range of applications, primarily as an open-cycle refrigerant, including:
- in cryotherapy for removing unsightly or potentially malignant skin lesions such as warts and actinic keratosis
- to store cells at low temperature for laboratory work
- in cryogenics
- as a backup nitrogen source in hypoxic air fire prevention systems
- as a source of very dry nitrogen gas
- for the immersion freezing and transportation of food products
- for the cryopreservation of blood, reproductive cells (sperm and egg), and other biological samples and materials
- to preserve tissue samples from surgical excisions for future studies
- as a method of freezing water pipes in order to work on them in situations where a valve is not available to block water flow to the work area - nowadays replaced by electrical heat pumps
- in the process of promession, a way to dispose of the dead
- for the cryonic preservation in the hope of future reanimation.
- to shrink-weld machinery parts together
- as a coolant
- for CCD cameras in astronomy
- for a high-temperature superconductor to a temperature sufficient to achieve superconductivity
- for vacuum pump traps and in controlled-evaporation processes in chemistry.
- to increase the sensitivity of infrared homing seeker heads of missiles such as the Strela 3
- to temporarily shrink mechanical components during machine assembly and allow improved interference fits
- for computers
- in food preparation, such as for making ultra-smooth ice cream. See also molecular gastronomy.
- in container inerting and pressurisation by injecting a controlled amount of liquid nitrogen just prior to sealing or capping.
- as a cosmetic novelty giving a smoky, bubbling "cauldron effect" to drinks. See liquid nitrogen cocktail.
- as an energy storage medium.
- branding cattle.
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