Liquid helium, with its low temperature characteristics close to absolute zero, has built a technical bridge in the fields of medical treatment, industry, scientific research, and space. Fullcryo provides cryogenic equipment such as helium refrigerators to support the application of cryogenic technology.
Liquid helium is one of the most “cold-resistant” substances in nature. Under standard atmospheric pressure, it becomes liquid at -268.93°C (4.2K), a temperature that is almost close to absolute zero, enough to freeze all other gases into solids. Unlike other elements, helium remains liquid even when the temperature approaches absolute zero – this is due to the “zero-point energy” effect in quantum mechanics: the zero-point energy of the helium atom overcomes the weak force that solidifies it, so that it cannot solidify no matter how cold it is under normal pressure, and it will not turn into a solid state until the pressure exceeds 25 atmospheres. This extreme low temperature and unique physical properties make liquid helium an indispensable “cold resource” in modern technology. 
The core of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology lies in the superconducting magnet inside it. Liquid helium plays the role of “super coolant” here – it cools the magnet coil to about 4K, making the coil enter the superconducting state and completely eliminating resistance. This means that the magnet can generate a strong and stable magnetic field without worrying about overheating damage, thus achieving fine imaging of human tissue.
A standard MRI device usually contains about 1700 liters of liquid helium. Although researchers have been trying to develop alternative cooling technologies (such as high temperature of superconducting materials), liquid helium is still the “standard” for high-field MRI. For example, if a clinical MRI system of 3.0T and above loses the cooling of liquid helium, the magnet will instantly “quench”, resulting in a sharp drop in imaging accuracy or even equipment damage.
Further Reading: Application of cryogenic engineering in the medical industry
In cryogenic laboratories, liquid helium creates an environment close to absolute zero, providing a stage for the study of quantum phenomena such as superconductivity and superfluidity. Scientists use this to explore the electronic behavior of materials at extremely low temperatures and promote breakthroughs in technologies such as quantum computers, superconducting magnets, and particle accelerators. For example, the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) relies on tons of liquid helium to cool superconducting coils to achieve high-speed particle collisions.
In the nuclear industry, helium is a “double guarantee” for reactors: its high thermal conductivity can efficiently remove heat from the core through convection to prevent overheating; at the same time, helium’s low penetration of radiation can prevent the leakage of radioactive particles inside the reactor. Compared with other gases, helium can reduce the risk of radiation leakage by more than 40%, which is an important barrier to the safe operation of nuclear power plants.
Further Reading: What is the science behind cryogenics?
Helium is an ideal shielding gas in the welding of active metals such as aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel. Its inert properties can isolate the reaction between metal and oxygen at high temperatures and prevent weld oxidation; at the same time, the high thermal conductivity of helium allows welding heat to be quickly conducted, which can not only increase the welding speed, but also increase the melting depth, making the weld stronger. This advantage is particularly critical in high-precision welding scenarios such as aerospace and medical equipment.
Chip production has almost stringent environmental requirements, and even slight pollution can cause the entire wafer to be scrapped. High-purity helium after liquid helium is vaporized is used for atmosphere control in manufacturing workshops: it is both an equipment coolant and a purge gas in the clean room. By maintaining an inert environment, it ensures the stability of processes such as silicon wafer deposition and etching.
More read: How High-Purity Helium Supports Semiconductor Manufacturing
The helium atom is the second smallest atom in nature (only larger than hydrogen), which allows it to penetrate micron-level gaps. In industry, technicians will fill the system with helium and then use a mass spectrometer to detect leaks – even if it is a 0.01mm crack, helium can “escape” and be captured. This method is widely used in the sealing test of automotive braking systems, high-pressure pipelines, and aircraft engines.
Birthday party balloons, advertising airships, and festive balls all rely on helium. Although it may seem “trivial”, the amount of helium used for balloons worldwide each year accounts for 15% of the total production – helium’s low density and non-flammability make it the only floating gas suitable for large-scale commercial use, and it is safer than hydrogen (hydrogen is prone to explosion when exposed to open flames).
The inflation speed of modern car airbags is crucial – they must be fully deployed within 0.03 seconds. Helium is the preferred gas for airbags because of its small molecular weight and fast diffusion rate: when the collision sensor is triggered, the mixture of helium and nitrogen expands rapidly to build a protective barrier for passengers.
During deep-sea diving over 50 meters, if divers inhale ordinary air, nitrogen will dissolve in the blood under high pressure, causing “nitrogen narcosis”. Heliox can avoid this risk because helium is difficult to dissolve in the blood, allowing divers to dive to depths of more than 100 meters. It is widely used in deep-sea exploration, shipwreck salvage and other fields.
Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in rocket fuel tanks need stable pressure to be smoothly transported to the engine. Helium is the best choice due to its chemical inertness and low boiling point. It can pressurize the fuel tank and drive the fuel flow without reacting with the fuel to avoid the risk of explosion. NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket consumes dozens of tons of helium for fuel system regulation every time it launches.
Meteorologists rely on helium balloons to carry instruments to an altitude of more than 30 kilometers to collect data such as air pressure, temperature, and humidity. Helium’s low density and non-flammability make it safer than hydrogen. It is the “standard configuration” of the global meteorological observation network. Tens of thousands of helium balloons are released every year to provide basic data for weather forecasts and climate change research.
Some satellites rely on radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for power supply, the core of which is a cryogenic storage system for liquid hydrogen. Liquid helium uses multi-layer insulation (MLI) technology and active cooling devices to maintain hydrogen at an ultra-low temperature of -253°C, ensuring that RTGs continue to generate electricity and support satellites in space for decades.
Further Reading: Liquid helium’s aerospace applications: SpaceX answers
Liquid helium is widely used in high-tech fields such as MRI, particle physics, superconductivity research and aerospace as a key cooling medium for achieving ultra-low temperature (4.2K) environments. However, the global liquid helium market has long faced supply constraints and price volatility, mainly due to its scarce resource properties and complex extraction process. With the localization of medical equipment, the development of quantum technology and the rising demand for cryogenic engineering, the market demand for liquid helium will continue to grow. In the future, the industry will accelerate its transformation towards recycling, high-efficiency refrigeration, and closed-circuit systems to promote more sustainable and cost-controlled use of liquid helium. technology companies, such as Fullcryo, are providing more energy-efficient and reliable liquid helium solutions to customers around the globe through self-developed helium chillers and closed-circuit systems.
