Product Spotlight: Acetylene

Acetylene is one gas that may be indispensable to industry. It is used for the production of chemicals, plastics, lighting, and it is critical to the fabrication industry as a welding fuel. Acetylene is a versatile gas and one of the key industrial gas products that CK supplies to our commercial partners. 

Pure acetylene is colorless and odorless but with some impurities it can have a distinctive odor. With oxygen, acetylene burns at very high temperatures which makes it invaluable for cutting, texturing, hardening, flame gouging and thermal spraying of many different kinds of materials. 

Acetylene is produced as a chemical reaction between calcium carbide and water which occurs at normal temperatures. Another process called thermal cracking requires high temperatures. Acetylene is very reactive and can be hazardous if combined with other gasses like oxygen. Because of this, it must be stored and handled with absolute care. 

The Industrial Uses of Acetylene

Welding, Cutting, and Heat Treating

Acetylene creates the hottest flame of any welding fuel. High temperatures mean acetylene is perfect to cut metals and heat treat them as part of many industrial processes. Welding equipment that uses acetylene can be very versatile as they do not require electricity. This allows acetylene based equipment to be used in remote locations where an electrical connection is not possible. 

Lighting

Calcium carbide was once used to light streetlamps and as an early light source for lighthouses as it produced an intense, bright light. Most early automobiles used this form of lighting before electric headlights were commercially available. Since this form of lighting used a highly-reactive substance, most lighting applications of acetylene moved on to safer solutions but calcium carbide is still used in some cases for mining and underground use. 

Chemical production

Acetylene is used in the synthesis of certain vitamins like vitamin A and D. Also it can be used to create complex chemical compounds that make up perfumes and solvents. 

Polyethylene Plastics

PVC and PVDF plastics are produced from ethylene or methane which in turn come from acetylene. These are sturdy plastics that are used in common household products and as durable and weather-resistant building materials. 

How to Safely Use Acetylene

Our acetylene is dissolved as a solvent which prevents decomposition and allows us to store greater quantities of it under lower pressure. Always use an acetylene canister in an unright position and in well-ventilated areas. Acetylene is lighter than air which means it can be trapped in roof spaces and empty areas that have inadequate ventilation or no extraction. 

The Right Product, Every Time

CK Supply provides acetylene cylinders in a variety of sizes or pressures, for any commercial or industrial purpose. Our aim is to make sure you have the correct materials and chemicals on hand to produce your products, fuel your processes, and get projects done the right way. If you need high-grade industrial acetylene in any quantity, for any industrial use, call CK today!