Oxy Acetylene Gas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast. LPG, too. Great prices…
Oxy Acetylene Bottles - Welding Gas Supplier
Acetylene gas is available in G and E cylinder sizes.
Oxygen is available in G2 and E2 cylinder sizes.
Acetylene Welding Gas
A low auto-ignition temperature of acetylene means that minimal energy is required to ignite acetylene in air or oxygen.
Highly reactive, acetylene is dissolved in acetone and contained within a porous mass inside the cylinder.
Common applications include:
Cutting
Brazing
Heating
Flame hardening - an oxy acetylene flame can be used where the hardened surface of carbon steel components is either in-situ, as a remedial process, or on components too large to fit in a furnace
Flame cleaning - a broad oxy acetylene flame is held close to a steel surface for cleaning
Thermal spraying of various metals and ceramics. The material to be sprayed is fed through the flame.
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Oxygen Welding Gas
Oxygen is typically supplied with a purity of 99.5% or higher.
Oxygen is colourless, odourless, does not burn, but does support and accelerate combustion.
Common applications include:
Used with a fuel gas for cutting, welding, brazing and soldering.
The use of oxygen gives higher flame temperatures than if air is used.
In plasma and laser cutting steel, an arc or a laser beam is used to heat the steel to its ignition temperature.
Oxygen is then used in the same way as with oxygen cutting to create an exothermic reaction and to blow away any metal oxide or slag.
Thermal lancing oxygen is used in conjunction with the steel lance to create a high temperature melting process capable of drilling or cutting through materials such as concrete, brick, stone and most metals.
Used as an assist gas in lasers for cutting mild steel.
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Precautions for Safe Handling of Acetylene
- Use of safe work practices are recommended to avoid inhalation.
- Do not drag, drop, slide or roll cylinders.
- The uncontrolled release of a gas under pressure may cause physical harm.
- Use a suitable hand truck for cylinder movement.
- Never open an acetylene cylinder valve without the regulator attached.
- Gas regulator of suitable pressure and flow rating fitted to cylinder and manifold with low pressure gas distribution equipment which controls fuel gas mixture and flame.
- The regulator and other equipment must be compatible with the product and suited for the particular use.
- Never "sniff" acetylene as it may ignite spontaneously.
- Instead, carefully inspect the outlet and if there are any signs of dirt, blow it out with a jet of clean compressed air or nitrogen.
Precautions for Safe Handling of Oxygen
- Use of safe work practices are recommended to avoid inhalation.
- Do not drag, drop, slide or roll cylinders.
- The uncontrolled release of a gas under pressure may cause physical harm.
- Use a suitable hand truck for cylinder movement.
Conditions for Safe Storage of Acetylene
-
(including any incompatibilities)
- Do not store near incompatible substances and sources of ignition.
- Cylinders should be stored: upright, prevented from falling, in a secure area; below 45°C, in a dry, well ventilated area constructed of non-combustible material with firm level floor (preferably concrete), away from areas of heavy traffic and emergency exits.
- Post "No Smoking or Open Flames" signs in the storage areas.
- Refer to applicable legislation on flammable storage quantity restrictions.
- Never transfer acetylene to another cylinder or other container.
Incompatible Materials
- Incompatible with oxidising agents (e.g. hypochlorites), copper, copper alloys (>70% copper), silver and mercury to form explosive acetylides.
- May decompose violently at high temperatures and/or pressures or in the presence of a catalyst.
- Hazardous by-products may be produced when this gas/gas mixture is used in welding, cutting and associated processes.
- Forms explosive acetylides with copper, silver and mercury.
- Do not use alloys containing more than 65% copper.
- Please see Acetylene Safety Data Sheet for full safety details
Conditions for Safe Storage of Oxygen
-
(including any incompatibilities)
- Do not store near sources of ignition or incompatible materials.
- Cylinders should be stored below 45°C in a secure area, upright and restrained to prevent cylinders from falling.
- Cylinders should also be stored in a dry, well ventilated area constructed of non-combustible material with firm level floor (preferably concrete), away from areas of heavy traffic and emergency exits.
Incompatible Materials
- Combustible materials such as oil and grease can spontaneously ignite at low temperatures in oxygen enriched atmospheres.
- Metals can be ignited and will continue to burn in pure oxygen atmospheres under specific conditions of temperature and pressure.
- Please see Oxygen Safety Data Sheet for full safety details
Who Discovered Acetylene?
The following is a brief timeline of the history of acetylene:
1836 – Acetylene (C2H2) discovered by English chemist Edmund Davy. He discovered it accidentally whist experimenting with potassium. He produced potassium carbide - K2C2 - which reacted with water to release acetylene. He thought it would be used as an illuminating gas.
1860 - Acetylene was rediscovered by Marcellin Berthelot, French chemist. He named it “acétylène". He also discovered a number of different ways to produce acetylene.
1950s – Acetylene manufactured by the partial combustion of methane (natural gas) or as a by-product in the ethylene stream from hydrocarbon cracking.
What is Acetylene Used For?
Here are some of the most notable uses for acetylene:
- As an industrial gas for oxyacetylene gas welding and cutting
- Used for lighting purposes before safer forms of lighting were available
- As a chemical feedstock for polyethylene plastics and acrylics
How is Acetylene Produced and Stored?
- Acetylene is manufactured by the partial combustion of methane (natural gas) or as a by-product in the ethylene stream from hydrocarbon cracking.
- Pure acetylene can easily explode when in liquid form, solid form or while being pressurized.
- To make it more stable, it is supplied and stored dissolved in acetone or dimethylformamide (DMF).
- This mixture is placed into a gas cylinder containing a porous filling of agamassan.
- This packaging makes acetylene safe to transport and use, given proper handling.
Acetylene Facts
- Acetylene is the simplest alkyne hydrocarbon
- Acetylene is colourless and odourless (in pure form)
- Acetylene can have a noticeable garlic-like smell if it contains impurities, such as hints of arsine and phosphine.
Acetylene Properties
| Acetylene Chemical Formula: | C2H2 |
| Acetylene Systematic Name: | Ethyne |
| Flame Temperature of Acetylene with Oxygen: | 3,330°C or 6,020°F |
| Boiling point: | -84.7°C -120.46°F |
| Melting point: | -80.75°C or -113.4°F |
| Gaseous Density: | 1.11 kg/m3 (15°C or 59°F at 1 atm) |
| Solid density: | 729 kg/m3 |
| Acetylene (gaseous) Specific Gravity: | 0.91 |
| Auto-ignition temperature: | 300°C or 572°F |
| Vapour pressure: | 4340.3 kPa (at 20°C or 68°F) |
| Molar mass: | 26.04 g/mol |