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The Impact of Selling the Federal Helium Reserve
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1
OVERVIEW
4
1
PROPERTIES AND HISTORY
14
Uniqueness of Helium,
14
History of Helium Usage,
15
2
U.S. FEDERAL HELIUM RESERVE AND THE HELIUM PRIVATIZATION ACT
19
Federal and Private Helium Facilities and Capacities,
19
Federal Helium Facilities,
19
Private Helium Facilities,
22
Helium Privatization Act of 1996,
24
3
USES OF HELIUM
26
Inadequacy of Data on Helium Use,
27
Current Uses,
28
Cryogenics,
28
Magnetic Resonance Imaging,
28
Semiconductor Processing,
29
Large-Scale Fundamental Research Requiring Helium Temperatures,
29
Small-Scale Fundamental Research Requiring Helium Temperatures,
30
Pressurizing and Purging,
32
Welding,
32
Arc Welding,
33
Laser Processing,
33
Atmospheric Control,
34
Optical Fiber Manufacture,
34
Plasma-Arc Coating,
35
Plasma-Arc Melting,
35
Heat Treatment,
35
Leak Detection,
35
