Glossary

California Tool & Welding Supply has generated a glossary of words and phrases that are frequently used in the welding industry and on our website to ensure that our customers are always up-to-date and knowledgeable with everything they should know.

If you have any more questions about content on our website or would like additional details about the products and services we extend, you can contact us at (951) 686-7822 or via email at [email protected].

Even if we don’t have an item stocked at a particular location, we can transfer inventory within our facility network to quickly meet your needs.

A

AA MACHINE –

Atomic Absorption Test Instrument. Uses
Purified acetylene and nitrous oxide or oxygen gas operation.

AIR –

Atmospheric – Pulled from the
atmosphere and compressed into cylinders. Airco markets atmospheric air.

Blended – A
prepared mixture of nitrogen and oxygen in proportions similar to atmospheric.

Synthetic – Same as
blended.

Ultra-Zero – Competitive
nomenclature for our Hydrocarbon Free air. Customer
should specify total hydrocarbons (THC)

Zero – Air with a maxim
total hydrocarbons (THC) of 2 ppm.

ACETYLENE –
see last page of glossary.

AEROBIC
MIXTURE –

Gas mixture containing oxygen and used
as a control atmosphere for the growth of biological cultures.

AIR
POLLUTION STANDARD –

A mixture made to a mix tolerance of 5% and an analytical tolerance of
2%.

ALLENE –

Also called propadiene. Used in electronic applications.

ANAEROBIC
MIXTURE –

Oxygen free gas mixture used as a control atmosphere for the growth of
biological cultures.

AMMONIA –

For information obtain CGA Pamphlets G-2 and G-2.1.

ANALYSIS –

“CERTIFICATION” Report
showing component concentration of a given mixture. Can also contain specific
impurities such as moisture, hydrocarbons, etc.

ANALYTICAL
ACCURACY –

Guaranteed accuracy of a mixture.

APPLE GAS –

Gas mixture containing 5% Carbon
Dioxide and 5% Oxygen in 90% Nitrogen. Used
as a standard for gas analyzers.

ARGON –

99.9998% Purity available. See
Research Grade Gas section, page 11.

ARSINE –

Used as a dopant in the electronics industry.

B

BANANA GAS –

See Fruit Ripening Gas

BLENDED AIR
–

See Air

BORON
TRICHLORIDE –

Used in refining of aluminum and other
metals for extinguish­ in magnesium fires, and in some plastic manufacture.

BROMINE
PENTAFLUORIDE –

Used as a fluorinating agent.

BROMINE
TRIFLUORIDE –

Used as a fluorinating agent.

BROMOTRIFLUOROETHYLENE
–

Used as a chemical intermediate in polymerization.

1, 3
BUTADIENE –

Limited shelf life under normal
conditions. Used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber, plastics and resins.

BUTANE –

Used in calibration and for filling
thermobulbs of temperature instruments. Used
in some instruments as a heating fuel. Hospitals sometimes used Instrument
grade.

1 – BUTENE –

Chemical intermediate, and in mixtures for calibrating instruments –
particularly in refineries.

CIS – 2
BUTENE

TRANS – 2
BUTENE –

Chemical intermediate. Also as
calibration mixtures.

2-Butene is a combination of CIS-2-Butene and TRANS-2-Isomers.

 

C

“CALIBRATION” MIXTURE
–

A mixture used to calibrate or check
the accuracy of an instrument. It is a general term and can be almost any
mixture of gases.

CARBON
DIOXIDE –

Used in refrigeration, carbonization, inserting,
blanketing, and neutralizing. Also used
as the extermination gas for animals.

CARBON
DIOXIDE COLEMI\N GRADE –

Used in a Coleman Instrument. Same
as instrument grade.

CARBON
MONOXIDE –

Uses: In mixtures for calibrating
air pollution equipment; chemical manufacturing, metal smelting and as a
fuel. CP grade is used as a calibration
gas for BTU instrument. Some textile manufacturers may be using co for testing
flame resistance of cloth.

CARBONYL
SULFIDE –

Chemical synthesis.

CERTIFIED MIXTURE
–

Meaning with analysis report of “certification”.

CHEMICAL
VAPOR DEPOSITION –

See data end of Glossary.

CHLORINE –

Water and sewage treatment, bleaching of pulp and paper, manufacture of
organic compounds.

CHLORINE
TRIFLUORIDE –

Uses incendiary and fluorination agent.

CYANOGEN –

Uses: Welding of heat resistant
metals, rocket propellant, chemical intermediate and fumigant (as a fumigant it
is used by large orchid growers in greenhouses).

CYCLOPROPANE
–

Uses: As an anesthetic and in organic synthesis.

CYLINDERS –

Steel or Aluminum containers for pure and mixed gases, come in various
sizes.

D

DEWPOINT –

The temperature at which moisture is
detectable in a gas. Dewpoint is
determined by the amount of moisture present. Conversion table can be found in
technical section.

DEUTERIUM –

Used in the pure state and in mixtures as a dopant.

DIBORANE –

Used in doping gas mixtures.

1, 2 DIBROMOTETRAFLOUROETHANE
–

Halocarbon 142B

DICHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE
–

Halocarbon 142B, Freon 12

DICBLOROFLUOROMETHANE
–

Halocarbon 21, Genetron 21

1, 2
DICHLOROTETRAFLUOROETHANE –

Halocarbon 114, Freon 114

1, 1,
DIFLUOR0-1-CBLOROETIDINE –

Halocarbon 142B

1, 1 DIFLUORETHANE
–

Halocarbon 1132A

1, 1
DIFLUORETHYLENE –

Halocarbon 1132A

DIMETHYLAMINE
–

Uses: By tanneries as a dehairing
agent, in dyes, pharmaceuticals, soaps and cleaning compounds, in rayon
manufacturing, and as fungicide. KNOW
YOUR CUSTOMER!

DIMETHYL ETHER
–

Uses: Refrigerant,
solvent, welding & cutting fuel, and in the dye industry,

2, 2 DIMETHYLPROPANE
–

Uses: Manufacture of isobutylene;
research on photo – conductivity and molecular structures.

DOPING GAS –

A gas mixture such as silane or
phosphine in helium which is added to semiconductors during manufacture to
impart specific electrical characteristics.

DOT-

Department of Transportation. DOT regulates packaging, the package itself,
hydrotesting, shipping, and transport of all hazardous materials over public
highways. All phases are
covered in R, M, and Graziano’s Tariff 127 ”Hazardous Materials Regulations of
the Dept. of Transportation including Specifications for Shipping
Containers”. (Available from the Association of American Railroads, Bureau
of Explosives, American Railroads Bldg., 1920 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
20036.

DOT 39
DISPOSABLE CYLINDERS FOR AUTO EMISSION STANDARD

CYLINDER DOT-39

HEIGHT 16]”

DIAMETER 9”

WATER CAPACITY 3.3 GALS.

CUBIC INCHES 692

SERVICE PRESS 260 PSIG

PROOF PRESS 325 PSIG

GAL VOL. 7, 5 cu. FT. @ 260 PSIG

VALVE BRASS

OUTLET [” SAE FLARE

Regulator is
pre-set @ 5 PSI has female (“SAE connection outlet and comes with 6 ft.,
of plastic tubing.

DOT – 39
MIXTURES

1. 3 component Propane, Carbon
Monoxide, Nitrogen (500 + ppm Propane, % Range carbon Monoxide).

2. 3 component Hexane, carbon Monoxide,
Nitrogen (500 + ppm Hexane, % Range Carbon Monoxide).

E

 

EMISSION
GASES –

1. Making gas mixtures for automotive
emission analyzer calibration purposes often requires “cross
referencing” with standards used by the customer.

2. Most engine exhaust emission
standards require mixtures with a mixing accuracy of +5% and an analytical
accuracy of ±2% or± 1% accuracy to a NIS standard.

EPITAXY –

See Chemical Vapor Deposition.

ETHANE –

Uses: Antiknock compound for gasoline,
as a refrigerant, and in manufacturing Halogenated Ethanes.

ETHYL
CHLORIDE –

Uses: Ripening of bananas (See
Banana Gas) and citrus fruits, welding, growing plants, manufacturing plastics
and in organic synthesis.

ETHYLENE
OXIDE –

Uses: Manufacture of chemicals,
pharmaceuticals and organic synthesis. The
main usage, both in the pure and mixed states is as a sterilant.

Ethylene Oxide is one of the
components of 8812 Sterilizing Gas (12% Ethylene Oxide 88%, Halocarbon
12). Used by hospital manufacturers of
disposable and plastic hospital supplies, pulp and paper manufacturers, starch
manufacturers, textile manufacturers, manufacturers of packaging for food
(individual serving cups for cream, salad dressing, etc.)

WARNING – When a hospital orders
“Ethylene Oxide” 999 times out of 1,000 they do not want pure Ethylene
Oxide. Question them 1 they
probably have a gas sterilizer which needs a mixture of 12% Ethylene Oxide,
balance Halocarbon Ethylene Oxide is flammable and could result in a hazardous
condition if used in such a sterilizer.

Ethylene Oxide in the pure state is
also used as a sterilizing medium; usually in very specialized operations –
starch manufacturing for example.

This product
polymerizes so it has a very limited shelf life.

F

FREON –

(Registered
trademark of DuPont), see Halocarbon.

FLUOROCARBONS
–

See Halocarbons

FIBKR OPTICS
–

See data end of Glossary

FID MIXTURE
–

(Linde Terminology) Airco trademark –
Nitrifuel. (Flame
ionization detector mixture). These are
mixtures of zero grade gases – low hydrocarbon content. The identical mixture of commercial grade
gases will not perform with a FID machine

– Additionally it may contaminate the machine.

The mixtures are:

40% Hydrogen Zero,
Bal. Nitrogen Zero

40% Hydrogen Zero,
Bal. Helium Zero

FLAME
RESISTANCE OF CLOTH TEST GAS –

Federal test method 5903-2. A mix to test resistance of cloth to fire.

3% Ethane

13% Carbon Monoxide

24% Methane

55% Hydrogen

Specific Gravity 0.380
BTU per cu. ft. 539

FRUIT
RIPENING GAS –

Used to initiate the degreening or ripening of some fruits and vegetables

H

HALOCARBON
11 – TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant, solvent, propellant and chemical
intermediate.

HALOCARBON
12 – DICHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant and propellant
in aerosol containers. The main use, however, is in OYXFUME 12 to provide the
background or carrier gas for Ethylene Oxide.

HALOCARBON
13 – CHLOROTRIFLUOROMETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant.

HALOCARBON
13Bl – BROMOTRIFLUOROMETHANE –

Uses: Chemical intermediate
and fire extinguishing agent=. (Particularly on boats).

HALOCARBON
14 – TETRAFLUOROMETHANE – (CARBON TETRAFLUORIDE)

Uses: Refrigerant.

HALOCARBON
21 – DICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant, solvent, aerosol propellant.

HALOCARBON
22 – CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant and aerosol propellant.

HALOCARBON
23 – FLUOROFORM – TRIFLUOROMETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant and chemical in organic synthesis.

HALOCARBON
113- 1, 1, 2-TRICHLOROTRIFLOUROETHANE-

Uses: Refrigerant,
solvent for oil and film processing, chemical intermediate.

HALOCARBON
114 – 1, 2 DICHLOROTETRAGLOUROETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant
and propellant.

HALOCARBON
115 – CHLOROPENTAFLOUROETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant, propellant and intermediate

HALOCARBON
116 – HEXAFLOURETHANE – “HFE” Dielectric Grade

Uses: Propellant. Also, used as
insulating gas for TV transmitting towers. Sulfur Hexafluoride can be
substituted. Also used to insulate high voltage power lines. Halo 116 and
Sulfur Hexafluoride can mix with no problems.

HALOCARBON
142B – 1, CHLORO – 1, DIFLUOROETHANE –

Uses: Refrigerant, solvent and aerosol propellant.

Halocarbon 142B is widely used by
manufacturer of some type of electrical switches, the material must then be to
“GE Specifications”. Halo 142B
can be supplied to this specification at a different price.

HALOCARBON
152A 1, 1 DIFLUROETBANE –

Uses: Aerosol propellant, solvent and refrigerant.

HALOCARBON
C-318 OCTAFLUOROCYCLOBUTANE –

Uses: Foam producing agent, dielectric insulator and
aerosol propellant.

HALOCARBON
1132A 1, l DIFLUOROETHYLENE –

Uses: Polymerizing agent (in plastic) and chemical
intermediate,

Other
HALOCARBONS not listed can be special ordered under certain circumstances.

HELIUM –

Research Grade 99.9999% Purity is
available. Total impurities are less than 1 ppm. UHP Helium is also used in chromatography.

IIEXAFLUOROETHANE
–

See Halocarbon 116.

HYDROGEN –

UHP Hydrogen used in gas chromatography. Semiconductor and ULSI Purity with special
analysis is used in Semiconductor work.
Prepurified with moisture certification is used by nuclear power plants.

HYDROGEN
BROMIDE – ANHYDROUS HYDROBROMIC ACID

Uses: Reagent and Catalyst.

HYDROGEN
CHLORIDE – ANHYDROUS HYDROCHLORIC
l\.CID –

Semiconductor and ULSI Purity – used for etching semiconductor crystals
Technical Purity.

Uses: Chemical intermediate,
rubber, manufacturing, chloride manufacturing, cotton and wool processing
catalyst, and oil manufacturing.

HYDROGEN FLUORIDE
–

Uses: Catalyst, fluorinating
agent, alkylation catalyst in petroleum, etching and polishing glass and
manufacturing aluminum fluoride.

HYDROGEN
IODIDE –

Uses: Manufacture of hydriodic acid and iodides.

HYDROGEN
SELENIDE –

Uses: Preparation of metallic
selenides and organ selenium compounds. In mixtures as a doping gas in the
electronic industry for preparing semiconductor materials.

HYDROGEN
SULFIDE –

Uses: Metallurgical operations
for metallic sulfides and in metals separation, as an oil additive and a
reagent.

I

IODINE PENTAFLUORIDE
–

Uses: As a fluorinating agent and an incendiary agent.

ISOBUTANE –

Uses: Calibration work in
instrumentation (both pure and as a mixture), filling of thermobulbs for
temperature and pressure gauges and an intermediate in manufacturing aviation
fuel and organic chemicals,

ISOBUTYLENE
–

Uses: Organic synthesis, production of aviation fuel.

Major Use: Manufacture of
Butyl Rubber.

 

K

KILOPASCAL-

Unit of pressure equivalent to 0.0099 atmospheres or 0.1455 psi.

KRYPTON –

Uses: Electronic and lighting. Major component in the manufacture of
long-life light bulbs.

L

LUNG
DIFFUSION MIXTURE –

Gas mixtures specially prepared to
calibrate equipment used to measure the amount of carbon monoxide diffused
through healthy versus unhealthy lungs. Mixtures
consist essentially of oxygen and nitrogen in the same quantities as air with
small. Amounts of carbon monoxide. Some mixtures include small amounts of neon,
helium or acetylene.

It is estimated that approximately half
of the 10,000 hospitals in the country have lung machines.

M

MEDICAL
PRODUCTS –

Information on some individual products follows.

-ACETYLENE – Purified (for blood
analysis with AA equipment) AEROBIC MIXTURES

-ANAEROBIC CARBON
DIOXIDE

-CALIBRATION MIXTURES
FOR BLOOD ANALYSIS EQUIPMENT

-LUNG DIFFUSION
(PULMONARY FUNCTION) MIXTURES

-METHANE – Blood
analysis, flame photometry

-NITROUS OXIDE USP – Anesthesia and AA
analysis PROPANE INSTRUMENT – Blood analysis

-UHP PURE GASES
(Oxygen, helium, etc.) for chromatographic analysis.

Special quotations on mixtures, pure
products, packages, purities, etc., are available upon request.

METHANE –

Uses: Commercial
is used by hospitals as a fuel in blood test machines.

CP is used as a BTU standard for
testing BTU equipment.

UHP is used in
electronics applications.

All grades are used
for testing equipment which uses natural gas as a fuel.

METHYL
ACETYLENE –

Uses: Organic
synthesis, and special fuel applications.

METHYL
BROMIDE –

Uses: As a
fumigant in both pure state and as ·a mixture.

As a solvent, refrigerant, in organic
synthesis and as a fire extinguishing agent in special systems on aircrafts.

3
METHYLBUTENE – 1 –

Uses: Organic
synthesis and high octane fuel additive.

METHYL
CHLORIDE –

Uses: Refrigerant,
catalyst, solvent, reagent.

Methyl Chloride is also used
(sometimes along with Halocarbon 142B) in the manufacture of thermoswitches and
gauges. It is available to “GE
Specs” at special pricing.

METHYL
FLUORIDE –

Uses: As an
aerosol propellant additive and in chemical research.

METHYL
MERCAPTAN –

Uses: Organic synthesis, chemical
intermediate and odorant. Methyl
mercapta, produced by nature in minute quantities, gives cheddar cheese its
characteristic flavor.

MONOMETHYLAMINE
–

Uses: Tanning,
dyes, synthetic fabrics and organic synthesis.

THE ABOVE TWO
PRODUCTS AR EASILY CONFUSED!

MANIFOLDS
–

Refer to page 141-156 of the R&SG
catalog. Modular construction of these manifolds allows for faster delivery and
flexibility for customer requirements.

N

NATURAL GAS
–

Uses: Fuel

Synthetic natural gas – to simulate
natural gas from various sources. Manufacturers of heating equipment, air
conditioners, etc. for export often. Require a special mix for test purposes.

NEON –

Uses: Lighting, electron tubes, signs, spark chambers,
refrigeration and gas lasers,

NITRIC OXIDE
– POISON –

Uses: The major use is in
Chemical Synthesis, gas mixtures for testing emission and air pollution
equipment.

NITROGEN –

There are seven
grades of nitrogen listed in the Specialty Gas Catalog.

Uses: In chromatography, blanketing,
semiconductor work, (there is a special specification for semiconductor purity
nitrogen which varies with the user).

NITROGEN
DIOXIDE – POISON –

Uses: Manufacture of Alkali
nitrites, as an oxidant in special fuels. Major
use is in mixture for pollution and emission test equipment.

NITROSYL
CHLORIDE –

Uses: Synthesis of organic compounds – usually in research
labs.

NITROUS
OXIDE –

Uses: Anesthesia,
propellant for aerosols, fuel for AA spectrophotometers.

NO, N20, NOX
–

Chemical
symbols for different, easily confused products.

NO – Nitric Oxide N02 – Nitrogen Dioxide

NO2 – Nitrogen Dioxide

N20 – Nitrous Oxide

NOX – All of above Oxides of Nitrogen

Ask for the specific
product.

O

OCTAFLUOROCYCLOBUTANE
–

See Halocarbon C318

OXYGEN –

Uses: Gas chromatography (UHP HC
Free of Zero), mixtures where purity or moisture is a factor. As an oxidizing
agent in chemical synthesis.

P

PENN GAS –

Trademark
of Pennsylvania Engineering Company for 88/12 sterilizing gas.

PERFLUORO-2-BUTENE
–

Uses: As a polymer and chemical intermediate.

PERFLUOROPROPANE
–

Uses: High voltage insulator. Etchant.

PHOSGENE –
POISON –

Uses: In manufacture of dyes
pharmaceuticals, insecticides, synthetic foam, resins and plastics.

PHOSPHINE –
POISON –

Uses: In both
pure and mixed state as a doping gas in the electronics industry.

PHOSPHORUS
PENTAFLUORIDE –

Uses: Catalyst and polymerization.

POLYMER or
POLYMERIZATION –

A natural reaction of a gas or liquid
wherein it thickens (polymerizes) into a stickly or solid mass. Plastic ware is
a result of the polymerization process.

PPB –

Parts per Billion

PPM –

Parts per Million

PROPANE –

Uses: Fuel, solvent, refrigerant.
Instrument grade Propane is used in hospitals for fuel in blood test work.

PROPYLENE –

Uses: Organic synthesis in the
production of propyl compounds, and as a basis for plastics.

R

RADIOACTIVE
GA.SES OR MIXTURES:

Certain radioactive gases and mixtures
are available from Airco Specialty Gases. Federal
regulations specify that anyone handling radioactive gases must have a license
to order and handle these materials.

S

Safety –

Safety in the handling of Specialty Gases is of paramount importance.

Certain mixtures can only be made to certain pressures for various
reasons. Also, there are limits to the amount of one gas which can
be mixed with another.

Any mixture which appears unsafe will
be checked by our Mixture Approval Committee, Riverton, NJ. If there is a limitation or if the gases
cannot be safely mixed, the Committee will advise before the order is entered.

SHIPPING –

Poisons cannot be transported on the
same vehicle with flammables or corrosives per DOT Tariff 27 Ser. 177.840 and
177.848.

SILANE – Semiconductor
and ULSI Purity

Uses: Both in pure and mixed
states used in the electronics industry for epitaxial and doping work, and for
the formation of high purity silicon oxides.

The Matheson. Product is the highest
quality silane available today. Purity
is typically specified by the sheet resistivity of an Epitaxial film deposited
from the gas in ohm cm,

SILICON
TETRACHLORIDE –

Liquid with a low vapor pressure used on
a silicone source for Epitaxy in Electronic Manufacturing. Airco can supply.

SILICON
TETRAFLUORIDE –

Uses: Manufacture of fluosilicic
acid which in turn is used in water fluoridation, and in producing aluminum
fluoride.

SULFUR
DIOXIDE –

Uses: Mixtures are used
extensively in checking equipment for air pollution and emission
monitoring. It is also a component of
the compound used for flame retardants necessary in the manufacturing of

·bedding, children’s sleepwear and
toys, automobile upholstery, and many textiles. In
the food industry, it is used in bleaching cherries, to halt fermentation in
grapes for winemaking, as a preservative for beer, wine and meats, as a
fumigant in bleaching paper and fumigating pulp, as a disinfectant, and in
tanning. Used as a neutralizer in chrome
plating.

SULFUR
HEXAFLUORIDE –

Uses: Non-toxic gas used as a
dielectric in transformers; and high voltage switchgear. High voltage
transmission lines are also a new application for SF6.

SF6 is a replacement
for air or N2 in loudspeakers_

Typical users are electric utilities
and power components. SF6 will replace
transformer oil in some dielectric applications.

SULFUR
TETRAFLUORIDE –

Uses: Manufacture of fluorinated materials.

SULFURYL
FLUORIDE –

Uses: Catalyst, and fluorocarbon
compound manufacture. It is also used as a fumigant, particularly for
termites. The patent rights for
application of this product as a fumigant are owned by Dow Chemical Co.

T

TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE
–

See Halocarbon 11

1, 1, 2
TRICBLORO – 1, 2, 2 TRIFLUOROETHANE –

See Halocarbon 113

TRIMETHYLAMINE
–

Uses: In the
manufacture of disinfectants and as a corrosion inhibitor.

U

ULTRA ZERO
AIR –

See Air, Hydrocarbon Free

V

VALVES –

The Compressed Gas Association (CGA)
has specifications for valve outlet connections for PURE Gases that have been
adopted by the Federal Government Department of Transportation (DOT) – eg.

The CGA has not adopted a standard for
all gas mixtures to date. This is being worked on presently ad hopefully will
be resolved soon. Matheson has representatives on the CGA valve outlet
committees which helps keep us up to date with regard to current thinking on
the matter of the gas industry.

VINYL
BROMIDE –

Uses: Manufacture of plastics

VINYL
CHLORIDE –

Pure material (not marketed, however,
mixtures are provided to industry for monitory purposes).

VINYL
FLUORIDE –

Uses: Chemical intermediate and polymer in plastics
manufacture.

VINYL METHYL
ETHER –

Uses: Polymer in plastics manufacture.

X

XENON –
(pronounced Zeenon)

Uses: In electronics and special application lighting.

Z

ZERO GAS –

Denotes hydrocarbon content. See
specific gas — Air Zero, Oxygen Zero, etc.