Because of its high flame temperature of 2925 C (5300 F) in oxygen, genuine MAPP gas can be used in conjunction with oxygen for heating, soldering, brazing, and even welding. Although acetylene has a higher flame temperature (3160 C, 5720 F), MAPP has the advantage of requiring no dilution or special container fillers during transportation, allowing a larger amount of fuel gas to be transported at the same weight, and it is considerably safer in use.
Due to the high concentration of hydrogen in the flame higher than acetylene but lower than any of the other petroleum fuel gases a MAPP/oxygen flame is not totally suitable for welding steel. The hydrogen corrodes the welds by infusing itself into the molten steel. This is not a severe concern for small-scale MAPP welding because the hydrogen escapes rapidly, and MAPP/oxygen can be utilized to weld small steel pieces in practice.
Underwater cutting, which necessitates high gas pressures, MAPP/oxygen was shown to be beneficial (under such pressures acetylene can decompose explosively, making it dangerous to use). Underwater oxy/fuel gas cutting of any kind, on the other hand, has mostly been supplanted by exothermic cutting, which is faster and safer.
MAPP gas is also utilized in air combustion for brazing and soldering, where its higher combustion temperature of 2,020 C (3,670 F) in air gives it a modest edge over rival propane fuel.
The most significant disadvantage of MAPP gas is its high cost, which is typically one-and-a-half times that of propane at the refinery and up to four times that of propane at the consumer level. It is no longer widely utilized in any large-scale business; for bigger users, acetylene/oxygen is more cost-effective than MAPP/oxygen when high flame temperatures are required, and propane/air is more cost-effective when significant amounts of overall heating are required.
A MAPP/oxygen flame, on the other hand, is still extremely desired for small-scale users, as it has higher flame temperatures and energy densities than any other flame other than acetylene/oxygen, but without the hazards and hassles of acetylene/oxygen. It comes in handy for jewelers, glass bead makers, and a variety of other craftspeople. The high heat capacity of the MAPP/air flame is particularly valued by plumbers, refrigeration and HVAC experts, and other craftsmen; MAPP was frequently utilized until recently, and was provided in small to medium size containers.
Blowtorches are used to brown and sear food cooked sous-vide at low temperatures. MAPP gases should be used instead of cheaper butane or propane, according to Myhrvold’s Modernist cuisine: the art and science of cooking, since they create greater temperatures with less chance of giving the dish a gas flavor, which can occur with incompletely combusted gas.
Why is MAPP gas used instead of acetylene in some cases?
MAPP gas, which is made composed of methylacetylene and propadiene, is substantially less toxic than acetylene. MAPP gas, unlike acetylene, does not explode if the cylinder is damaged or disturbed. It can also resist higher pressures, making it suitable for underwater activities such as ship repair. Although MAPP gas flames do not burn as hot as acetylene flames, some say that it meets or exceeds acetylene’s welding capabilities.
Because oxygen is required to sustain any flame, it is also required for the operation of all blowtorches. But why do we need a compressed oxygen cylinder if the gas is already present in the air? Because acetylene and MAPP gas would not burn as hot if it didn’t have it. Oxygen functions as an accelerant, causing the fuel to burn faster and at a higher temperature.
Oxygen and acetylene (thus the name “oxyacetylene torch”) are commonly used in welding torches because they produce flames that range from 5000 to 6000 degrees Fahrenheit (2760 degrees Celsius to 3316 degrees Celsius). In fact, the oxyacetylene-propane mixture produces hotter flames than any other gas mixture. When pure oxygen is added to the flame, the temperature of acetylene rises to over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (538 degrees Celsius), while the temperature of MAPP gas rises to over 1500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Because of the scalding flames, it’s crucial to know what you’re doing before picking up a blowtorch. We’ll explore at the safety precautions involved in beginning one in the next section.
What do you do with MAPP gas?
A MAPP (methylacetylene-propane-propane) torch is a portable flame device used to heat a variety of things. A MAPP torch can get significantly hotter than a propane torch, making it ideal for a wide range of applications. Welding, soldering, and brazing pipes are the most common uses for MAPP torches. A MAPP torch is comparable to a propane torch in terms of operation. Because the torch can reach temperatures of up to 5300 degrees Fahrenheit, extreme caution must always be exercised.
Is it possible to braze using MAPP gas?
It is determined by the size of the weldment as well as the torch. For little jobs like brazing on a nut or a tab, it should be fine. Some of the newest “turbo” or “swirl” torches are far hotter than older models.
What is the best blowtorch gas?
“When using my blow torch, sometimes I notice nasty propane tastes,” reader Rusty Shackleford said in response to my recent post on “doneness.” Is there anything you can tell me about blow torch cooking in general?”
This reminded me of a query I received lately about the usage of other flammable gases in cooking. One inquiry led to another at The Cooking Lab, and before I knew it, my brief response had expanded beyond the boundaries of the initial query. We go into further detail about this in the book, but here’s a quick rundown of how the type of gas used in a blow torch can alter the flavor.
Although natural gas (methane) is a frequent fuel for ranges and stovetops, propane or butane is the most common fuel for cooking torches. Fuels such as oxyacetylene and MAPP gas, on the other hand, burn hotter and can thus impart more heat to the food for a faster sear.
The sort of gas you use isn’t as crucial as the efficiency with which it burns. Propane, butane, MAPP, and acetylene are all fine as long as the torch flame is fully oxidizing. This is a flame created by a large amount of oxygen, either from the surrounding air or from compressed oxygen. When the torch burns dark blue, is relatively short in length, and hisses and roars, you know you’ve got an oxidizing flame. Frequently, folks have an excessively big flame with a yellow tip. Because there are uncombusted hydrocarbons from the fuel in the flame that will wind up in the meal, imparting a disagreeable flavor, this is a reducing flame, also known as a carburizing flame. Butane torches, in my experience, are particularly prone to this, but it may happen with any torch that hasn’t been set properly before aiming it at the food.
People frequently point the blow torch at the food before properly adjusting it. Not only do they frequently end up torching the food with a dirty flame, but they also blow raw fuel into it before it burns. It’s best to fire the torch and set the fuel-to-oxidizer ratio before getting started, just like an old carbureted car (and for the same reason).
To cut a long story short, fire your torch away from the food. You won’t have any problems if you tweak the torch to produce a short, hissing dark blue flame.
Bernzomatic uses what kind of gas?
The cylinder is made to refuel Bernzomatic mini torches, lighters, cordless soldering irons, and other butane-powered equipment quickly. It has an easy-to-refill universal fuelling tip and odorized butane for added safety. The flame temperature of butane fuel in the air is 3,150F.
Is propane or acetylene hotter to burn?
Propane, often known as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or LP gas, is a popular fuel. It is carried and kept as a very cold liquid, and if it comes into contact with the skin, it can induce a “frozen burn” or frostbite. Inside a tank or cylinder, liquid propane is converted to gas. Propane is colorless and odorless in its natural state. Manufacturers add a chemical ingredient to propane to give it a unique smell, making it simpler to detect in the event of a leak or spill.
Welding
To begin with, propane cannot be utilized in gas welding. When acetylene is burned in the presence of oxygen, a reducing zone forms, which cleans the steel surface. Propane, unlike acetylene, lacks a decreasing zone and so cannot be utilized for gas welding.
Brazing
Propane can be used for brazing in the same way as acetylene can. Equal result for capillary brazing (silver brazing). Acetylene will be advantageous for Braze “welding” (thick flowing brazing alloys).
Cutting
Propane, like acetylene, can be used to cut. When cutting with acetylene, the tip of the inner flame cone is usually placed on the metal (1mm from the plate surface). If you try the same thing with propane, you’ll have to wait a long time. The preheat procedure starts faster if you lift the torch to use the outer flame cone. Because propane only produces a modest amount of heat in the inner flame cone (less than 10%), the majority of the heat in the flame is concentrated in the outer cone. In the inner flame cone, acetylene discharges over 40% of its heat.
As a result, acetylene is preferable to propane for cutting. While acetylene is hotter than propane in terms of temperature, the fact is that individuals are cutting with propane wrongly. They make the error of cutting with propane in the same way as they would with acetylene. The heat in the propane warmup flame is not the same as the heat in the acetylene preheat flame. In summary, cutting with propane necessitates a different method, while acetylene preheats faster in general. Because cutting quality is unimportant in shipbreaking/ship demolition yards and scrapyards, propane is frequently used for cutting.
Heating
…is a completely other story. It is incorrect to claim that propane produces less heat (plain wrong actually). Although acetylene is hotter, it produces less heat. Oxygen / Propane is used for the majority of the preheating. This is a proven fact. The amount of heat provided from propane is greater.
Economy
Propane’s stoichiometric oxygen needs are higher than those of acetylene. The volume of oxygen to fuel gas ratio for the maximum flame temperature in oxygen is 1,2 to 1 for acetylene and 4.3 to 1 for propane. As a result, when Propane is used, significantly more oxygen is consumed. Despite the fact that propane is less expensive than acetylene, the higher oxygen consumption offsets this.
Safety
The most significant disadvantage of utilizing propane on board is, without a doubt, the issue of safety.
With a specific gravity of 0,9, acetylene is lighter than air (1). If gas escapes, the temperature will rise. Propane has a Specific Gravity of 1.66, making it heavier than air (as do other hydrocarbon gases such as butane and MAPP* (modified propane gas). Any propane leak in an enclosed space will sink to the deck level, where it will accumulate and may go undetected.
The oxygen-to-gas combination must be within a specified range for propane to burn successfully. There should be four parts propane to 96 parts oxygen in optimal conditions. When the gas burns outside of these parameters, incomplete combustion occurs, resulting in an excess of carbon monoxide. If the space does not have adequate ventilation, this can be quite harmful. Working in enclosed places such as ballast tanks and double bottoms onboard a ship is common. As the deadly gas replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, carbon monoxide overdose can be fatal.
*”MAPP gas” is a registered trademark of The Linde Group. The original chemical composition, methylacetylene-propadiene propane, inspired the name. “MAPP gas” is a term used to describe a type of gas
What are the benefits and drawbacks of MAPP gas use?
In soldering, this gas is a good substitute for propane. This gas can be used in conjunction with oxygen in applications such as heating, soldering, brazing, and welding. This gas has a flame temperature of 5300 degrees Fahrenheit. The main benefits of this gas are that it does not require special containers or dilution for transportation, is considerably safer to use, and allows us to transport a large amount of fuel gas. The most significant disadvantage is the cost, which is approximately 1.5 times that of propane gas.
Why isn’t MAPP gas available anymore?
MAPP gas was a trademarked term for a fuel gas based on a stabilized blend of methylacetylene (propyne), propadiene, and propane owned by The Linde Group, a branch of the defunct global chemical giant Union Carbide. The original chemical composition, methylacetylene-propadiene propane, inspired the name. The term “MAPP gas” is also commonly used to refer to UN 1060 stabilized methylacetylene-propadiene (unstabilised methylacetylene-propadiene is known as MAPD).
MAPP gas is often recognized as a safer and more convenient acetylene replacement. True MAPP gas production in North America came to an end in early 2008 when the single surviving facility in the country stopped producing it. However, many current “MAPP” goods are actually MAPP replacements. These variants are virtually entirely made of propylene, with minor propane impurities (
