liquid nitrogen?

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

hey does anyone know where i can get liquid nitrogen?
i need it for a project i am working on!

Comments

[wbaltic.livejournal.com]

Yes, we've been working on getting liquid nitrogen in for our liquid nitrogen ice cream day for our members.

The nitrogen itself is inexpensive and easy to get from the Airgas company which has a local outlet (in the Burlington/Billerica area I think). The expensive thing is the dewar which can cost a couple hundred dollars. I think you could rent it from airgas as well, but will be cheaper if you find a friend with one. You might also want some cryo-gloves unless you can be very careful.

If you know someone at a local university who will help you use their equipment, it might be best.

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

awwwwesome! thanks!

[jaypee.livejournal.com]

We need some of this at the W&B stat!

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

Ask your friends who work in labs!

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

yeah, i need to get a dewar. i might just bite the bullet and get one.
because liquid nitrogen is awesome.

[frederic.livejournal.com]

While not optimal, a foam cooler (with a lid) will work rather well instead of a dewar.

[skexy.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that in 1985 liquid nitrogen is available in every corner drugstore, but in 1955 it's a little hard to come by.

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

this wins.

[squonk.livejournal.com]

Shit! You beat me to it.

dewar

[mstenner.livejournal.com]

I think there's an airgas next to MIT, but it may just be a distribution point (not a walk-in retail location). As for dewars, depending on the quantity that you need, a decent thermos bottle (the old kind with glass inside) would _probably_ do the trick. A dewar is just a double layer of glass that is typically vacuum in between (to reduce convective heat transfer) and silvered (to reduce radiative heat transfer). That's how they make thermos bottles, or at least how they used to. I'd be wary of plastic as it may not behave well at cold temps. IMPORTANT: if you get/use a thermos, DO NOT SEAL IT. The evaporating nitrogen will build pressure and it will explode. This is FUN in a plastic coke bottle, but NOT FUN in a glass+metal thermos.

I agree that for larger quantities, a foam cooler is a good cheap solution.

Re: dewar

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

the website says this is a retail location. vassar street?
ill call them and see what the deal is.
is there somethin i should say as to not get denied? like, are there regulations against this?

Re: dewar

[cityofbeige.livejournal.com]

That's what I'm wondering. I can see why there would be regulations against liquid oxygen, as it is flammable as all hell. Knowing the way government works, they might restrict liquid nitrogen as well because of guilt by association.

I guess the easiest thing to do is just ask Airgas... the worst they can do is tell you "no".

Re: dewar

[zmook.livejournal.com]

If you are careless with liquid nitrogen, it *can* be dangerous. Notice that LN2 is *colder* than LO2, so it will tend to condense O2 out of the air while you keep it around. If you have some in an uninsulated container, it can condense O2 on the outside. As they say, be aware, take care.

Re: dewar

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

Yes yes, condensing O2 with LN2 so super fun for creating large fireballs. Damn, now I want to get some LN2—it's been too long!