Applications
With applications across different industry segments, the carbide manufacturing process includes its refinement into various particle size ranges, resulting in the development of multiple compositions and mixtures. In the steel industry, carbide enables, for example, cost reduction and improvement in the final quality of the steel produced.
Check out below the different applications of calcium carbide:
Acetylene Production
Acetylene is a gas produced from calcium carbide, which is widely used in industry, for welding and oxy-fuel processes, due to its high flame temperature. It can also be used in the manufacture of materials such as explosives, solvents, organic compounds, plastics and rubber.
Steelworking
Pig iron desulfurization
As a source of calcium, carbide has a high affinity for oxygen and sulfur (during steelmaking) and, therefore, it is extremely useful for desulphurization processes designed to reduce the amount of sulfur in the final product.
Deoxidation of steel and slag
In a market that is increasingly demanding higher quality steel, calcium carbide can be used to improve the quality of special types of steel (stainless steel, high alloys, low alloys, electrical steel, etc.) and also improve the quantity and morphology of endogenous inclusions.
Calcium carbide can be used to replace silicon alloys and metallic aluminum in the deoxidation/secondary treatment process.
Substituting out these materials benefits the process, because it eliminates the side effects caused by these metals. This improves the casting process, reduces energy consumption, and improves the steel’s final properties etc.
In addition, research has already shown that calcium carbide helps with:
- Recovering Iron and Manganese metal
- Increasing the refractory campaign life of the ladle slag production line, due to slag foaming
- Increasing the yield of alloys
- Reducing electricity and electrode consumption
- Creating higher steel purity
- Improving desulfurization rates in the ladle furnace, and shortening processing times
- Improving the morphology of endogenous inclusions
- Improving steel quality
Iron-Casting Industry
As carbide has an excellent affinity for sulfur, it reduces the amount of this contaminant in the metal produced. This adds value to the final version of the cast iron. In addition, it can be used in the charge for Cubilot furnaces as an energy source, which means that you can reduce the amount of coke and coal used.
Other applications
Calcium carbide can be used in many other applications, both within and out of the industry, such as:
- Analyzing soil moisture, due to its hygroscopic properties
- The plastics industry: it helps to produce PVC and PVA resins
- Carbon black: used to manufacture batteries