PRODUCTS

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a tasteless, colorless, odorless, nonflammable gas. At normal pressures and temperatures, it is present in gaseous form. CO2 is a slightly acidic gas and some feel that it has a biting taste and slight pungent odor. Carbon dioxide is nonreactive and nontoxic, relatively. This gas will not support life, burn or combust. It is vital to the bodily functions in a number of ways, but in high concentrations can become dangerous with extended exposure due to breathing, heart rates and a change in the body’s acidity. Carbon dioxide in extremely high doses can displace oxygen and cause suffocation.

It is commonly mixed with argon (Ar) as a shielding gas during welding of carbon and stainless steel or in some cases it is used in its pure form. This prevents atmospheric contamination of molten weld metal during gas shielded electric arc welding process.