Re: strength of vacuum

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

That's a lot more than you'll need..
SF6 is about 2 cubic feet per pound (a balloon filled with SF6 actually 
feels heavy)
But, the $2-3/pound price sounds about right (if a bit low)...  A few years 
back, the price was much higher (the fluorination plants were busy making 
non-CFC refrigerants) ($6-10/lb)

Standard cylinders are also  10, 20,25, 38, 40, 100, 115 pounds, depending 
on where you buy it.

In an odd twist, apparently the early Nike AIR sneakers are rumored to have 
used SF6 in the gas capsule (non-flammable, inert, cheap enough, etc.)


There are other readily available gases that might be more convenient.. 
Most of the Freons, for example, are fairly good insulators. (for the same 
reason that SF6 is, although not with the further advantage of high density)

At 11:53 AM 11/3/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>Original poster: VGREAT-at-aol-dot-com
>sf6 available at most gas distributors (welding supply house)  aropund a 
>$1000 for a 5 foot tall bottle 350lbs