Special gas mixtures serve two main functions: as calibration mixtures and as industrial process components.

• The largest and most diversified group, calibration gases are used to calibrate analytical equipment used in applications such as petrochemical process monitoring, environmental studies and research.
• Process gas mixtures are integral ingredients of either a manufacturing process or of a manufactured component. Their uses range from leak detection and reducing atmospheres to the production of sealed lamps and as lasing media in lasers.