Acetylene, LPG, Argon, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen and Mixture Gases are commonly used in metal fabrication.
Acetylene
Acetylene, which is produced from the reaction of water with Calcium Carbide, is commonly used as a cutting agent with Oxygen in steel fabrication. It is capable of cutting steel between 3mm to 300mm thick. As Acetylene is lighter than Air, it is able to diffuse faster and therefore, much safer to use than LPG. Its distinctive and garlic - like odour allows easy detection of leakages.
LPG
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is flammable, colourless, odourless, non-corrosive and non-toxic. It includes several gases, such as Butane, Isobutene, Propane, Propylene, Butylenes and any mixtures under Hydrocarbons classification.
LPG is commonly used as a cutting agent for cutting steel of up to 200mm. With its non-toxic and non-corrosive properties, LPG such as Propane and Butane, is popularly used in metal fabrication and heat treatment.
Argon
Argon is commonly used as an inert gas shield during are welding process. It is also used to provide an Oxygen and Nitrogen free environment for annealing and rolling metals and alloys.
Oxygen
Oxygen is widely used with Acetylene, LPG, Hydrogen and other fuel gases for cutting and welding purposes. It is used to create high temperature flame for cutting and welding metals.
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide is used as an inert "blanket" for welding of metals. It prevents atmospheric contamination of molten weld metal during gas-shielded arc welding processes. It is also used in other industrial processes such as grinding heat-sensitive materials to prevent burning, and cold treatment of metals.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen has many applications in metal fabrication process. Liquid Nitrogen is commonly used to shrink-fit metal parts and to support plasma cutting. It is also used as a purge gas in stainless steel tube welding.
Mixture Gases
Mixture of Oxygen or other gases with Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Helium and Nitrogen are also widely used for welding processes. For example, Hydrogen is mixed with Argon for welding austenitic stainless steel material.
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