Product Application

The chief applications of calcium carbide are in the manufacture of calcium cyanamide, acetylene required in oxyacetylene welding, synthesis of solvents and organic compounds required in the pharmaceutical and dyestuff industries and manufacture of synthetic rubber and plastics. It is also used in signal fires. Sodium cyanide used for the recovery of gold in the ore-treatment process is manufactured from calcium carbide. As a dehydrating agent, calcium is employed in electrostatic work and in the food and solvent industries. It finds application in the steel hardening, in the manufacture of graphite and hydrogen, and in the reduction of copper sulphide and metallic oxide.

Other Uses of Calcium Carbide (CaC2)

• It is used in the production of calcium hydroxide and acetylene.
• It is used in the production of polyvinyl chloride as acetylene the derivative of calcium carbide can be used as a raw material for the production of PVC.
• It is used to produce calcium cyanamide.
• It is used in the removal of sulphur from iron. The removal of sulphur from any material is called desulphurization.
• It is used in lamps such as carbide lamps. In the early days, it was used as headlights of automobiles.
• Used as a ripening agent like ethylene.
• It is used in bamboo cannons as well as big-bang cannons.
• It is used as a deoxidizer i.e it helps in the removal of oxygen during the manufacturing of steel.