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Commercial acetylene is generally considered a nontoxic gas that has been shown in experiments to have no chronic harmful effects even in high concentrations. In fact, it has been used as an anesthetic. Like most other gases, acetylene is a simple asphyxiant if present in such high concentrations that the lungs are deprived of their required supply of oxygen. In such cases, asphyxiation will result. It should be noted, however, that the lower flammable limit of acetylene in air will be reached well before asphyxiation can occur, and the danger of explosion is reached before any other health hazard is present. When in cylinders, acetylene production is principally used for oxy-acetylene welding, cutting, and heat treating.
This Acetylene Chemical Label, helps identify the use of, storage of and/or hazards of acetylene in your facility.
Compliance
Acetylene
Acetylene is a compound of the elements carbon and hydrogen. Its composition is expressed by the chemical symbol C2H2. On a weight basis, the proportion of the elements in acetylene is approximately 12 parts of carbon to 1 part of hydrogen, or 92.3% to 7.7%, respectively.
Acetylene burns in air with an intensely hot, luminous, and smoky flame. The ignition temperatures of acetylene and mixtures of acetylene with air or acetylene with oxygen will vary according to composition, pressure, water vapor content, and initial temperature. As a typical example, mixtures containing 30% acetylene by volume with air at atmospheric pressure can be ignited at approximately 581°F (305°C).
Physiological effects
Commercial acetylene is generally considered a nontoxic gas that has been shown in experiments to have no chronic harmful effects even in high concentrations. In fact, it has been used as an anesthetic. Like most other gases, acetylene is a simple asphyxiant if present in such high concentrations that the lungs are deprived of their required supply of oxygen. In such cases, asphyxiation will result. It should be noted, however, that the lower flammable limit of acetylene in air will be reached well before asphyxiation can occur, and the danger of explosion is reached before any other health hazard is present.
Pipeline use of acetylene
Pipeline acetylene is used in the United States for chemical synthesis and for manufacturing carbon black. Acetylene is used in the manufacture of a variety of specialty chemicals and monomers that are used for organic synthesis, as solvents, and to make polymers used for plastics and synthetic rubber. The earlier uses for acetylene in the manufacture of commodity chemicals such as acetone, acetic acid, and acetaldehyde have been replaced by alternative raw materials.
Cylinder use
The remaining acetylene production is principally used for oxy-acetylene welding, cutting, and heat treating.
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