Applications of Calcium Carbide

Carbide is used in different industries and applications including:

(1) Production of acetylene

The reaction of calcium carbide with water, producing acetylene and calcium hydroxide. This reaction was the basis of the industrial manufacturing of acetylene, and is the major industrial use of calcium carbide.

CaC2(s) + 2H2O(l) → C2H2(g) + Ca(OH)2(aq)

(2) Production of Calcium Cyanimide

Carbide reacts with nitrogen at high temperatures to form calcium cyanimide, commonly known as nitro lime and is used as a fertilizer.

CaC2 + N2 → CaCN2 + C

(3) Steelmaking- Metallurgical Applications

• In the desulfurization of iron (pig iron, cast iron and steel)

• As a fuel in steelmaking to extend the scrap ratio to liquid iron, depending on economics.

• As a powerful deoxidizer at ladle treatment facilities.

(4) Carbide lamps

Calcium carbide were used in carbide lamps. Water dripping on carbide produces acetylene gas, which burns and produces light. While these lamps provided steadier and brighter light than candles, they were dangerous in coal mines, where flammable methane gas made them a serious hazard. Carbide lamps were still used extensively in slate, copper, and tin mines where methane is not a serious hazard. Most miners’ lamps have now been replaced by electric lamps.

Carbide Lamps is an old application such as the headlights in the older generation vehicles.

Calcium Carbide is used in producing polyvinyl chloride as acetylene, which is the derivative of calcium carbide and is used as a raw material for PVC production.

(5) Production of Calcium Hydroxide

Ripening agent such as ethylene and also for ripening fruits

It is also used as a deoxidizer, which means it helps in oxygen removal during steel manufacturing.

neutralize the acid rain affects in farming

bamboo cannons and big-bang cannons