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Safety Data Sheets

Dissolved Acetylene (C₂H₂)

Additional Info Acetylene Cylinder Sizes Identifying Cylinders Cylinder Colours Model Risk Assessment (pdf) Completed Example Risk Assessment (pdf ) Safety Data Sheets Cylinders In Fire National Stakeholder Group(pdf)

Features

• Low auto-ignition temperature - requires minimal energy to ignite in the air or oxygen
• Is the hottest and most efficient of all the fuel gases.
• Distinctive garlic-like smell, which is recognisable above 2% concentrations in air
• Non-toxic - may cause dizziness in high concentrations

Benefits

• Oxygen and acetylene together produce a flame temperature of approximately 3150°C
• The oxy-acetylene flame gives very good localised heating
• In cutting, oxy-acetylene gives the fastest preheating and piercing times of any fuel gas combination
• In oxy-acetylene cutting processes, improved cut quality, higher cutting speed, faster cut initiation time and reduced oxygen use are achieved
• When used with either oxygen or air, acetylene can produce a thin layer of black carbon particles. This can prevent components sticking in their moulds
• Acetylene is stored in specially designed cylinders to prevent decomposition
• Unused gas will not collect in low-lying areas, ducts and drains causing a potential hazard

Applications and Uses

• Cutting
• Flame heating
• Flame gouging
• Gas welding - The only fuel gas that can be used to weld steel
• 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 wide oxy-acetylene flame is held very close to a steel surface to be cleaned
• Thermal spraying of various metals and ceramics. The material to be sprayed is fed through the flame
• Spot-heating applications
• Brazing
• Texturing
• Profile-cutting
• Branding pallets
• Wood-ageing
• Glass and metal castings
• Mould release and other anti-stick applications
• The only fuel gas recommended for use in underground working conditions. (In any confined spaces, extraction devices should be used to remove any potentially dangerous by-products)

Material Compatibility

• Acetylene can ignite and burn instantly from a spark or piece of hot metal and can form explosive acetylide compounds with some metals, most notably, copper, silver and mercury. However copper alloys containing less than 65% copper and silver solder containing less than 43% silver are considered safe.
• Hoses used with acetylene are coloured red and are designed to resist acetone. For this reason other fuel gas hoses must not be used.
• For a full list of materials, which are not allowed or recommended only under certain conditions please consult BCGA Codes of Practice CP5 and CP6.

Please Note: Care must be taken when using the gas, as acetylene is an asphyxiant Highly reactive, acetylene is dissolved in acetone and contained within a porous mass inside the cylinder Can react over time with some metals to form explosive acetylides Slightly lighter than air and will collect at ceiling level