Acetylene Gas (C2H2)
Acetylene, or ethyne, is a colourless and highly flammable gas with the chemical formula C2H2.
C2H2 gas has many properties and characteristics that are useful for industry applications.
The gas is mainly used in chemical synthesis. The second primary use of acetylene is welding and cutting.
DSW provides acetylene gas in various purities and packages for different needs, including industrial and laboratory applications.
P10-ACETYLENE-c2h2
Uses and Applications
Acetylene plays a crucial role in the industry production.
Welding, Cutting, and Heat Treating
As a shielding agent, argon protects the welding from atmospheric contaminants such as oxygen or nitrogen.
Gas cutting, or oxy-fuel cutting, is a weld that uses acetylene. C2H2 gas can cut and weld materials that require temperatures up to 3,500 degrees C (6330 degrees F).
Signaling Lights
Acetylene was used in the 1800s to light a portable carbide or acetylene gas lamp. These lamps were used in homes, cars, bicycles, etc. They were also used in mines. Even cities and towns have these lamps for lightning. The lamps used calcium carbide and water to generate acetylene. The flow of acetylene is carefully monitored to manage the amount of acetylene used. The amount of acetylene used determined the intensity of the light.
Production of Chemicals
Acetylene serves as a raw material in synthesizing many organic chemicals and plastics. These chemicals include acetaldehyde, acetic acid, vinyl chloride, 1,4-butanediol, acetylene black, and acetylenic alcohol.
Making Polyethylene
The acetylene derivatives ethylene and methane make polyethene, PVC, and PVDF.
Another method involves mixing acetylene and other elements or chemicals like hydrochloric acids, chlorine, etc. To produce various plastics like PVC and PVDF.
Plastics like these are used to make many household and commercial items.
Purity of Acetylene
Acetylene can explode if it reacts with oxygen or impurities. The acetylene purity must be high to avoid instability. Different grades of acetylene have different impurity levels. Grade A acetylene has less than 0.5% impurities and is used for chemical synthesis. Grade B acetylene has up to 2% impurities and is used for oxy-cutting or heat-treating.
Supply Modes
Acetylene Cylinders: They do not contain acetylene gas that is dissolved in a solvent, usually an acetone, and absorbed into a porous mass within the cylinder.
Liquid Cylinders: Acetylene can also be supplied in liquid form in specially designed cylinders. This form is used for applications that require large volumes of gas.
Dissolved in Solvents: Acetylene is sometimes supplied dissolved in solvents like acetone or DMF (dimethylformamide) in specially designed cylinders to prevent decomposition.
Cylinder-Pallets: For more extensive supply needs, acetylene can be supplied in cylinder-pallets.
With 20 years of experience, DSW consistently meets welding, shielding and cutting gas needs with compressed acetylene cylinders and acetylene liquid cylinders.
