Acetylene

 

Acetylene

Acetylene is the primary fuel for oxy-fuel welding, cutting and heating.

 

Acetylene Technical

Product Details

Acetylene is a highly flammable colourless gas of distinct odour. The high solubility of acetylene in acetone (300:1 by volume at 1 100 kPa) enables it to be supplied dissolved in acetone. Acetylene cylinders are filled with porous material which carries the acetone. Higher grades and purities of this product are available in the ‘Special Products & Chemicals’ section’. The recommended regulator W003851.

 

APPLICATIONS:

 

Acetylene is used as a fuel gas for oxy-acetylene welding, cutting, general localised heating, flame hardening, flame cleaning to remove rust from steel, spalling concrete, and other processes requiring a high temperature flame. Steel, stainless steel, aluminium and wrought iron are recommended for use with acetylene.

 

FEATURES & BENEFITS:

 

Acetylene is the best and most versatile fuel gas for welding, straightening, bending, forming, hardening, cutting or tempering. It is the hottest flame temperature when compared to MAPP gas, propylene and propane and natural gas. Specially purified instrument grade acetylene which has impurities removed is used in atomic absorption, analytical instrumentation and navigational beacons. A low flame moisture content makes it a good choice for many critical heating processes. It also requires the least amount of oxygen to ensure complete combustion.

 

HAZARDS:

 

An asphyxiant with anaesthetic properties

Forms an explosive mixture with air

Can form explosive acetylides with unalloyed copper, silver, mercury, brass containing more than 66% copper, and brazing materials containing copper and silver

Can spontaneously decompose within equipment and pipework under certain flow, temperature and pressure conditions