Final answer:
Acetylene cylinders contain a porous material such as pumice or charcoal, saturated with acetone, to absorb the acetylene gas for safe handling. The cylinder design includes safety features to prevent rapid gas expansion when exposed to high temperatures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acetylene Cylinder Safety Materials
In an acetylene cylinder, a porous material is utilized to store acetylene gas safely. This material helps absorb the acetylene and can typically be a mass of pumice or charcoal, which is then saturated with a solvent like acetone. Acetone helps in stabilizing the acetylene under high pressure. These materials inside the cylinder prevent the risk of explosion by reducing the amount of free gas in the space, and by allowing safe storage of acetylene in a dissolved state.
The internal structure of acetylene cylinders is such that they also contain a safety barrier to prevent the rapid expansion of the gas, which can result if the cylinder is subject to high temperatures, such as during a fire. This construction method also allows for acetylene to be safely drawn from the cylinder when needed for applications like oxyacetylene welding.