nitrox
Sign in to saveNitrox refers to any gas mixture composed (excepting trace gases) of nitrogen and oxygen. It is usually used for mixtures that contain less than 78% nitrogen by volume. In the usual application, underwater diving, nitrox is normally distinguished from air and handled differently. The most common use of nitrox mixtures containing oxygen in higher proportions than atmospheric air is in scuba diving, where the reduced partial pressure of nitrogen is advantageous in reducing nitrogen uptake in the body's tissues, thereby extending the practicable underwater dive time by reducing the decompression
Article
32 sectionsContents
- Physiological effects under pressure
- Decompression benefits
- Nitrogen narcosis
- Oxygen toxicity
- Carbon dioxide retention
- Other effects
- Uses
- Underwater diving
- Training and certification
- Therapeutic recompression
- Medicine, mountaineering and unpressurised aircraft
- Terminology
- MOD
- Equipment
- Choice of mixture
- Best mix
- Production
- Cylinder markings to identify contents
- Regional standards and conventions
- European Union
- Germany
- South Africa
- United States
- Hazards
- Fire and toxic cylinder contamination from oxygen reactions
- Incorrect gas mix
- History
- In nature
- See also
- References
- Footnotes
- External links
Nitrox refers to any gas mixture composed (excepting trace gases) of nitrogen and oxygen. It is usually used for mixtures that contain less than 78% nitrogen by volume. In the usual application, underwater diving, nitrox is normally distinguished from air and handled differently. The most common use of nitrox mixtures containing oxygen in higher proportions than atmospheric air is in scuba diving, where the reduced partial pressure of nitrogen is advantageous in reducing nitrogen uptake in the body's tissues, thereby extending the practicable underwater dive time by reducing the decompression requirement, or reducing the risk of decompression sickness (also known as the bends). The two most common recreational diving nitrox mixes are 32% and 36% oxygen, which have maximum operating depths of about 110 feet (34 meters) and 95 feet (29 meters) respectively.
Nitrox is used to a lesser extent in surface-supplied diving, as these advantages are reduced by the more complex logistical requirements for nitrox compared to the use of simple low-pressure compressors for breathing gas supply. Nitrox can also be used in hyperbaric treatment of decompression illness, usually at pressures where pure oxygen would be hazardous. Nitrox is not a safer gas than compressed air in all respects; although its use can reduce the risk of decompression sickness, it increases the risks of oxygen toxicity and fire.