Editing Argon (section)

===Miscellaneous uses===
Argon is used for [[thermal insulation]] in [[Insulated glazing|energy-efficient windows]].<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/understanding-energy-efficient-windows.aspx
 |title=Energy-Efficient Windows
 |access-date=1 August 2009
 |publisher=FineHomebuilding.com
|date=February 1998
 }}</ref> Argon is also used in technical [[scuba diving]] to inflate a [[dry suit]] because it is inert and has low thermal conductivity.<ref name="IEEE2008">{{cite journal
 |author=Nuckols M. L.
 |author2=Giblo J.
 |author3=Wood-Putnam J. L.
 |title=Thermal Characteristics of Diving Garments When Using Argon as a Suit Inflation Gas
 |journal=Proceedings of the Oceans 08 MTS/IEEE Quebec, Canada Meeting
 |date=15–18 September 2008
 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/7962
 |access-date=2 March 2009
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721035810/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/7962
 |archive-date=21 July 2009
 |url-status=usurped
 }}</ref>

Argon is used as a propellant in the development of the [[Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket]] (VASIMR). Compressed argon gas is allowed to expand, to cool the seeker heads of some versions of the [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] missile and other missiles that use cooled thermal seeker heads. The gas is [[AIM-9 Sidewinder#Design|stored at high pressure]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://home.wanadoo.nl/tcc/rnlaf/aim9.html 
 |title=Description of Aim-9 Operation 
 |access-date=1 February 2009 
 |publisher=planken.org 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222025556/http://home.wanadoo.nl/tcc/rnlaf/aim9.html 
 |archive-date=22 December 2008 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref>

Argon-39, with a half-life of 269 years, has been used for a number of applications, primarily [[ice core]] and [[ground water]] dating. Also, [[potassium–argon dating]] and related [[Argon argon dating|argon-argon dating]] are used to date [[Sedimentary rock|sedimentary]], [[Metamorphic rock|metamorphic]], and [[igneous rock]]s.<ref name="emsley" />

Argon has been used by athletes as a doping agent to simulate [[Hypoxia (environmental)|hypoxic]] conditions. In 2014, the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] (WADA) added argon and [[xenon]] to the list of prohibited substances and methods, although at this time there is no reliable test for abuse.<ref>{{cite news |title=WADA amends Section S.2.1 of 2014 Prohibited List |url=https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/2014-05/wada-amends-section-s21-of-2014-prohibited-list#.VARJ3WNqOIl |date=31 August 2014 |access-date=1 September 2014 |archive-date=27 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427160909/https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/2014-05/wada-amends-section-s21-of-2014-prohibited-list#.VARJ3WNqOIl |url-status=dead }}</ref>