An argon enquiry should begin by separating gaseous argon from refrigerated liquid argon. They can share a purity target, but they do not share the same packaging or delivery process. Gaseous supply can be reviewed in cylinders, bundles and quads. Liquid argon is reviewed as bulk cryogenic supply in an ISO tank container, subject to equipment and receiving-site compatibility.
1. Select gaseous or liquid supply first
State the required physical condition before choosing a package. Gaseous argon supports packaged deliveries where cylinder inventory, pressure and changeover frequency fit consumption. Liquid argon supports larger-volume projects where the receiving site can safely connect, unload and manage cryogenic product. A request that lists both states without a consumption or receiving context cannot be priced on one clear basis.
Provide the required quantity, unit and delivery frequency. If volume is expressed at reference conditions, identify those conditions. For recurring demand, distinguish the normal delivery profile from peak or emergency consumption.
2. Define grade through the complete acceptance basis
Grade 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 are useful purity starting points, corresponding to minimum argon contents of 99.999%, 99.9999% and 99.99999%. A grade name does not define every individual contaminant. State any limits that matter to welding, metallurgy, laboratory, electronics or another receiving process.
The agreed written specification defines acceptance. A batch Certificate of Analysis reports the results for the supplied material. Website values do not replace either document. Analytical methods, reporting units and any required detection limits should be agreed through the quality and documentation review.
3. Specify gaseous packages and pressure together
For gaseous argon, identify a cylinder, 12 or 16 cylinder bundle, or 64 × 50 L quad. State the required working or filling pressure, with 150, 200 and 300 bar reviewed against compatible equipment. Include the valve or manifold interface, cylinder ownership, inspection status for customer equipment and any cleanliness requirement.
The package must fit site access, handling, storage limits and connection hardware. A bundle or quad can reduce changeovers, but only where unloading equipment and the receiving manifold are appropriate. The broader packaging guide explains why gas, pressure, valve and logistics must be reviewed as one configuration.
4. Treat liquid argon as an ISO tank project
For liquid argon, identify the cryogenic ISO tank, ownership, usable quantity, design and operating data, current certificates, connection arrangement and allowed holding period. Confirm the receiving tank or process interface, unloading method, pressure constraints, transfer-line responsibility and site access.
If the buyer provides the ISO tank, attach its certificate and technical data for filling acceptance. If a supplier-owned tank is used, agree free-use days, return location, residual condition and which party arranges and pays for the empty return. Product loss and schedule exposure depend on the complete transport cycle, not only the outbound freight.
5. Match Incoterms to a named delivery point
State the destination country, city, port or facility and the requested Incoterm with a named place. The practical delivery basis depends on the selected package and transport mode. Include consignee details, import constraints, access restrictions and the required delivery window.
For liquid supply, explain how long unloading and equipment release will take. For packaged gas, state whether empties return as individual cylinders, bundles or a complete quad. Ownership and return responsibility should be commercially agreed before dispatch.
6. Define documents before the shipment is prepared
Typical requirements can include the product specification, batch CoA, current SDS, package certificates and transport documentation. State any language, legalization, original-document or consignee-naming requirement. For customer-owned packages, provide the records needed for acceptance before scheduling.
Gaseous or liquid state, grade and impurity limits, quantity and unit, package, pressure, valve or connection, ownership, consumption schedule, receiving infrastructure, destination, Incoterm, required date and documents.
7. Submit one technically consistent request
Use the structured RFQ to select argon and its physical state. The form then limits the packaging path to compatible choices. SG Trading reviews quality, equipment, route, destination and documentation before confirming availability and commercial terms.
For liquid-helium equipment and return planning, the separate liquid helium RFQ guide addresses product-specific pressure and transport details. Argon requirements remain governed by their own agreed specification and offer.