Acetylene - C2H2
Acetylene - C2H2
This page brings together the main information on acetylene (C2H2) such as its physical characteristics, its effects on health, the means of detecting it (C2H2 gas detector) as well as the appropriate respiratory protection equipment (self-contained breathing apparatus or air-supplied system).
Main characteristics of acetylene (C2H2)
Acetylene (C2H2) is a compound belonging to the "alkyne" family. It is often used in the chemical industry as a raw material for the synthesis of organic compounds such as acrylate or chloroethylene. Acetylene is also used in hydrocarbon cracking processes (oil refining) and in welding activities, with temperatures reaching up to 3000 °C.
| CASE | RELATED | LSE | IP | Density / Air | Filter / ARI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74-86-2 | 2.0 % | 100% | 11.40 eV | 0.9 | ARI |
Health effects of acetylene
At room temperature, acetylene is a colorless and theoretically odorless gas when pure. It is not a toxic gas, but respiratory risks are linked to suffocation. It is extremely flammable (R12) and presents risks of explosion (R5) in contact or not with air (R6). It reacts generally with almost all oxidants, and can form toxic and/or corrosive mixtures even at low concentrations.
C2H2 (Acetylene) Detector
Colorless and odorless when pure, only a C2H2 gas detector can accurately measure the concentrations of this gas. Two ethylene detection methodologies: either in toxicity with a measurement in ppm (PortaSens), or in explosiveness with a measurement in percentage of LEL (explosive gas detector). For the calibration and gas tests of your fixed or portable gas detectors, Acetylene standard gas cylinders are available.
Respiratory protection Acetylene (C2H2)
Acetylene is not a toxic gas , but the respiratory risks are linked to suffocation. Filtering respiratory protection is therefore not recommended and we will therefore move towards an open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus (ARICO) or an air-supplied system for long-term interventions.