Helium

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Helium

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Helium

Physical Properties

Under solid (grey), liquid (blue) and vapor states (white) along the equilibrium curves

General properties
Solid phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

(P)

log(P)

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Molecular weight

4.003
g/mol
Content in dry air

5.24
ppm
5.24 ppm 5.24E-4 vol% 5.24E-6 vol/vol

Critical Point

Temperature

- 267.95
°C
- 450.31 °F 5.2 K
Pressure

2.275
bar
2.275E5 pa 32.9961 lbf/in2 2.2453 Atm 227.5 Kpa 1706.395 mmHg
Density

69.85
kg/m³
4.3606 lb/ft³

Triple Point

Temperature

- 270.97
°C
- 455.746 °F 2.18 K
Pressure

5.042E-2
bar
5042 pa 7.3128E-1 lbf/in2 4.9761E-2 Atm 5.042 Kpa 37.8182 mmHg

Pressure 1.013 bar

Melting point

- 271.38
°C
- 456.484 °F 1.77 K
Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)

12.492
kJ/kg
5.3742 Btu/lb 2.9857 kcal/kg
Solid density

/

Pressure 1.013 bar

Liquid density (at boiling point)

124.74
kg/m³
7.7872 lb/ft³
Boiling point

- 268.93
°C
- 452.074 °F 4.22 K
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)

20.754
kJ/kg
8.9286 Btu/lb 4.9603 kcal/kg

Pressure1.013barTemperature

Compressibility factor Z

1.0005

1.0005

1.0005
Cp/Cv ratio γ

1.6665

1.6665

1.6665
Dynamic viscosity

1.8695E-4
Po
18.695 µPa.s 1.8695E-5 PA.S 1.2562E-5 lb/ft/s

1.9388E-4
Po
19.388 µPa.s 1.9388E-5 PA.S 1.3028E-5 lb/ft/s

1.9846E-4
Po
19.846 µPa.s 1.9846E-5 PA.S 1.3336E-5 lb/ft/s
Gas density at boiling point

16.753
kg/m³
1.0459 lb/ft³

16.753
kg/m³
1.0459 lb/ft³

16.753
kg/m³
1.0459 lb/ft³
Gas density

1.784E-1
kg/m³
1.1137E-2 lb/ft³

1.692E-1
kg/m³
1.0563E-2 lb/ft³

1.635E-1
kg/m³
1.0207E-2 lb/ft³
Heat capacity at constant pressure Cp

5.1931
kJ/(kg.K)
1.2412 BTU/lb∙°F 5193.124 J/kg∙K 1.2412 kcal/kg∙K

5.1929
kJ/(kg.K)
1.2411 BTU/lb∙°F 5192.875 J/kg∙K 1.2411 kcal/kg∙K

5.1929
kJ/(kg.K)
1.2411 BTU/lb∙°F 5192.875 J/kg∙K 1.2411 kcal/kg∙K
Heat capacity at constant volume Cv

3.116
kJ/(kg.K)
7.4474E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 3115.975 J/kg∙K 7.4474E-1 kcal/kg∙K

3.116
kJ/(kg.K)
7.4474E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 3115.975 J/kg∙K 7.4474E-1 kcal/kg∙K

3.116
kJ/(kg.K)
7.4474E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 3115.975 J/kg∙K 7.4474E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Liquid (at boiling point)/gas equivalent

694.83
mol/mol

732.95
mol/mol

758.37
mol/mol
Solubility in water

/

7.123E-6
mol/mol

6.997E-6
mol/mol
Specific gravity

0.14

0.14

0.14
Specific volume

5.604
m³/kg
89.7674 ft³/lb

5.9116
m³/kg
94.6947 ft³/lb

6.1166
m³/kg
97.9785 ft³/lb
Thermal conductivity

146.2
mW/m∙K
8.4529E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.2579 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.4943E-4 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.462E-1 W/(m∙K)

151.69
mW/m∙K
8.7703E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.3052 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.6255E-4 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.5169E-1 W/(m∙K)

155.31
mW/m∙K
8.9796E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.3363 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.712E-4 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.5531E-1 W/(m∙K)
Vapor pressure

/

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Helium

Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate a liquid or gas volume or a mass

Liquid Phase

At boiling point at 1.013 bar

m3(Volume)

kg(Mass)

Gas Phase

at 1.013 bar and boiling point

m3(Volume)

kg(Mass)

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Helium

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Space

A liquid helium subsystem allows pressurization of the oxygen tank of Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

Space

Automotive

Helium is used to inflate car airbags. It is also used for laser welding and arc welding.

Automotive

Electronic components

Helium allows temperature and uniformity control during etching and anneal process. It is also used as carrier gas for some Chemical Vapor Deposition process using liquid precursors.

Electronic components

Hospital care

Drug: helium is used to assist oxygen flow in case of respiratory obstruction. It is a component of inhaled gaseous mixtures such as for pulmonary function test. Medical device: helium is used during cryoablation procedures.

Hospital care

Laboratories & Research Centers

Helium is the most commonly used carrier gas in gas chromatography. It is also used as cooling fluid for the MRI, NMR or EPR magnets under liquid state at -452.2 °F (-269 °C,4.15 K).

Laboratories & Research Centers

Metal

Helium is used in some laboratories and leakage detection applications.

Metal

Metal fabrication

Helium is used in laser welding and arc welding.

Metal fabrication

Oil & Gas

Helium is used in diving and IMR (Inspection, Maintenance & Repair) work achieved subsea for oil & gas offshore operations.

Oil & Gas

Pharma & Biotech

Helium is used for leak test on process equipment.

Pharma & Biotech

Other

Helium is used to inflate balloons for parties, becoming lighter than the air. It is used to detect leaks. It also allows to cool superconducting magnets. It is used in helium-neon lasers and in mixtures for carbon dioxide lasers. Helium allows to exclude air from fabrication processes (blanket gas). It is also used to transfer heat in some processes.

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Helium

Safety & Compatibility

Information to safely use this molecule

Major hazards
Material compatibility

Safety

GHS04

Gas under pressure

Odor

none

Metals

Aluminium

Satisfactory
Brass

Satisfactory
Monel

Satisfactory
Copper

Satisfactory
Ferritic Steel

Satisfactory
Stainless steel

Satisfactory
Zinc

Satisfactory
Titanium

No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Acceptable
strong rate of permeation
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride

Satisfactory
Polyvinyl chloride

Satisfactory
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polycarbonate

Satisfactory
Polyamide

Satisfactory
Polypropylene

Acceptable
strong rate of permeation

Elastomers

Buthyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber

Satisfactory
Nitrile rubber NBR

Satisfactory
Chloroprene

Satisfactory
Silicone

Acceptable
strong rate of permeation
Perfluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Neoprene

Satisfactory
Polyurethane

Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene

Satisfactory

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant

Satisfactory
Fluorocarbon based lubricant

Satisfactory

Materials compatibility

Recommendations : Air Liquide has gathered data on the compatibility of gases with materials to assist you in evaluating which materials to use for a gas system. Although the information has been compiled from what Air Liquide believes are reliable sources (International Standards: Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas content; Part 1- Metallic materials: ISO11114-1 (March 2012), Part 2 - Non-metallic materials: ISO11114-2 (April 2013), it must be used with extreme caution and engineering judgement. No raw data such as these can cover all conditions of concentration, temperature, humidity, impurities and aeration. It is therefore recommended that this table is only used to identify possible materials for applications at high pressure and ambient temperature. Extensive investigation and testing under the specific conditions of use need to be carried out to validate a material selection for a given application. Contact the regional Air Liquide team for expertise service.

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Helium

Learn More

General information

More information

Helium was discovered in 1868 by Jules Janssen. Its name comes from the Greek "ἥλιος" (helios) meaning "sun". Helium is abundant in the sun's atmosphere and is found at trace levels in Earth's atmosphere. However, it may also be found in fossil form in natural gas pockets in some oil fields, extracted by drilling deep into the subsoil. Helium is an extremely light gas and is therefore very volatile. It is colorless, odorless, non-flammable and completely inert.