DA (dissolved acetylene) cylinders in India are painted maroon. Always read the gas name stencilled on the cylinder as well.
What is DA gas?
DA gas means dissolved acetylene. Acetylene is a fuel gas that becomes unstable if it's simply compressed into a cylinder, so DA cylinders are packed with a porous filler soaked in a solvent (usually acetone), and the acetylene is dissolved in it. That's why the cylinder is called "dissolved acetylene", and why it must always be kept upright.
Burnt with oxygen, acetylene gives one of the hottest fuel-gas flames available, over 3,000 °C. That makes oxygen + DA the standard combination for gas welding, gas cutting and brazing.
Where DA gas is used
- Gas cutting of mild steel in fabrication shops, scrap yards and construction sites.
- Gas welding and brazing, including brass, copper and AC or refrigeration pipework.
- Heating, bending and straightening of steel in repair and maintenance work.
- Laboratories: acetylene is the usual fuel gas for flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).
What we offer
- DA gas cylinder refilling and exchange
- Cylinders on deposit or rent for new workshops
- Delivery in Kurnool and nearby towns, with oxygen in the same trip
- DA and oxygen regulators (KOR) and welding electrodes
DA cylinder safety rules
- Always keep DA cylinders upright, both in use and in storage, so the acetone stays inside the cylinder and doesn't reach the valve.
- Never use acetylene above 15 psi (about 1 bar) working pressure on the regulator outlet.
- Don't draw gas too fast. A common rule is not to withdraw more than about one-seventh (1/7) of the cylinder's contents per hour. For big cutting jobs, connect cylinders together or ask us for advice.
- Fit flashback arrestors and check hoses for cracks before every job.
- Check for leaks with soapy water, never with a flame.
- If a DA cylinder gets hot or catches fire, move people away and call the fire service (101).
Questions about DA gas
Is DA gas the same as acetylene gas?
Yes. DA stands for dissolved acetylene, which is how acetylene is stored and supplied in cylinders. People in Kurnool usually ask for "DA gas" or "DA cylinder".
Can I lay a DA cylinder flat in my vehicle?
No. Transport and store DA cylinders upright and secured. If a cylinder has been lying down, stand it upright and let it settle before use, as the acetone can otherwise come out with the gas.
Do I need oxygen along with DA gas?
For gas cutting, welding and brazing, yes: acetylene is the fuel and oxygen makes the flame hot enough. We supply both.