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Tim if you put the sensor in a sealed plastic bag, the sensor will 
deplete all of the O2 in the bag and if no more gets in then there will 
be no more reaction. Oxidation involves the loss of electrons from 
whatever is being oxidized. Inert gas will work as well and any residual 
O2 will be consummed by the sensor and if there is no more O2 then the 
reaction stops. There is no way short of absolute zero to stop oxidation, 
loss of electrons, from the sensor material after it starts. You can only 
slow it down by cooling or inert gas. Helium is impractical because it is a 
small molecule and will escape containment quickly. Refrigeration is good 
and cheap. No sealed plastic bag will keep out O2 for long. If you want 
to keep from excessive angst, keep dead O2 sensors around as they will no 
longer oxidize in a useful way in the presence of O2. Rod

On Wed, 24 Jan 1996, Tim Taylor wrote:

> Thanks for the responses about O2 sensor care.  The concensus still is to
> seal the sensor away.  A little humidity might be nice, but just a little. 
> 
> To extrapolate a little, it seems to make sense to pack the sensor in a
> container of inert gas.  Rod Farb mentioned Nitrogen. I've been thinking
> about Argon or Helium because of availability. It would be impossible to
> completely stop the reaction, since you would be unable to purge all of the
> oxygen that had already been absorbed by the sensor head. However the inert
> gas would prevent more oxygen reaching the sensor.  Any opinions?  
> 
> I may seem a little anal about the sensor, but I hate to think of them
> burning away in the basement while I wait for the ice to melt on the lakes.
> 
> Tim Taylor
> taylor@ru*.ne*
> http://www.rust.net/~taylor
> 
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