Argon gas OK in beer?

[backhousebrew]

I have a tank full of shielding gas for a mig welder that is 25% CO2 and 75% Argon.
Is it OK to use for carbonating a corny keg full of Brown Ale?
Wikipedia says Argon is non-toxic, oderless, tasteless and that it is used in wine barrels to remove the oxygen for aging.
Anyone know the pros or cons on this?

[maltbarley]

Way too many unknowns there. How does it dissolve in liquid? What compounds will it form? How much pressure is needed? etc. I'd say leave that experiment for a chemist or try it on a very small amount using a carbonator cap.

[DrDually]

What size is the cylinder? I may be able to trade a co2 for it

[jward]

Argon is safe. One uses it in wine making to protect the wine from O2. You can lay a blanket of it on top or purge your container before racking. I think you'll find that you don't get enough CO2 in your beer. The gases will dissolve into the beer reaching an equilibrium based on their partial pressures. Which is fancy way of saying that CO2 dissolves well so lots of what is there will go in the beer. Argon doesn't dissolve as well so it will stay in the air space of you keg. Because the keg will still be under pressure from the remaining Argon you wont get enough CO2 added and will end up under carbonated. I bet your CO2/Argon mix is more expensive then CO2. I would look for a trade like the Dr. suggested.

If you are up for some fun you might try a batch. "Argon has approximately the same solubility in water as oxygen gas and is 2.5 times more soluble in water than nitrogen" -Wikipedia
You'll could compare argonated stout to nitrogenated stout.

[nico soze]

I would watch out. Some of my customers use argon as an inert gas to displace air in their furnaces, and the stuff they get has been odorized, like natural gas. I don't know..

[backhousebrew]

Thanks for the input.
Since this will be my first attempt at kegging, I think I'll play it safe and stick with the CO2.
Chris, thanks for the offer to trade but I'll still need my welding gas.
From jwards input, it sounds like the argon probably won't carbonate properly.
According to nico, sometimes odor is added to argon gas. I don't want to risk it.

[backyard brewer]

Thanks for the input.
Since this will be my first attempt at kegging, I think I'll play it safe and stick with the CO2.
Chris, thanks for the offer to trade but I'll still need my welding gas.
From jwards input, it sounds like the argon probably won't carbonate properly.
According to nico, sometimes odor is added to argon gas. I don't want to risk it.

Welding gas is not oderized, otherwise you'd be smelling it the entire time you're welding!

[DrDually]

Thanks for the input.
Since this will be my first attempt at kegging, I think I'll play it safe and stick with the CO2.
Chris, thanks for the offer to trade but I'll still need my welding gas.
From jwards input, it sounds like the argon probably won't carbonate properly.
According to nico, sometimes odor is added to argon gas. I don't want to risk it.

Welding gas is not oderized, otherwise you'd be smelling it the entire time you're welding!

It may have been methane gas...that really stinks