Uses for Calcium Carbide

Calcium carbide is a compound that is made from a combination of lime--an inorganic material with a high concentration of calcium--and coke--a carbon fuel made from coal that is low in sulfur and ash content. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the mixture is then heated to a temperature between 3,632 and 3,812 degrees F in an electric arc furnace. Calcium carbide is used primarily in manufacturing applications, although it does have other limited uses.

Acetylene Production

When calcium carbide is mixed with water, it produces acetylene, according to George Frederick Thompson, author of "Acetylene Gas, its Nature, Property and Uses." Acetylene is primarily used as a fuel in the U.S., Japan and parts of Europe, although its use has declined since the 1990s. Chinese manufacturers use acetylene as a raw material for producing polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.

Steelmaking

Calcium carbide is sometimes used in the process of making steel, according to the International Association for Calcium Carbide. It aids in desulpherizing iron used in foundry casting. Steelmakers also use calcium carbide to remove iron and manganese oxides, which can interfere with the steel refining process.

Spelunking and Mining

Calcium carbide appears in lamps used by spelunkers and miners, according the the Te Ara website. Water drips on the calcium carbide to produce a small amount of acetylene, which is ignited to produce light. Safety issues have led many miners and cave explorers to switch to modern LED lamps.

Carbid Schieten

A Dutch New Year's Day tradition involves the use of calcium carbide to turn metal milk jugs into cannons, according to the Carbidbus website. The jugs are filled with calcium carbide and water and set at an angle. A person then applies a torch to a hole in the bottom of the jug, which ignites the mixture and blows the cap off. This tradition is thought to have stemmed from pagan practices used to scare off malicious spirits.