Gaaslõikus

Gaaslõikus is an Estonian term referring to gas cutting, a thermal cutting process used to sever or shape metal. It is primarily used for ferrous metals, particularly steel, which have low ignition temperatures and form oxides with lower melting points than the base metal. The process involves heating the metal to its ignition temperature with a preheating flame, typically from an oxy-acetylene torch, and then introducing a jet of pure oxygen. This oxygen stream oxidizes the heated metal, and the molten oxide, along with the molten metal, is blown away by the force of the oxygen jet, creating a kerf or cut.

The preheating flame is usually generated by the combustion of a fuel gas, such as acetylene, propane, or natural gas, with oxygen. The cutting oxygen is supplied at a higher pressure and flow rate than the preheating oxygen. The efficiency and quality of the gas cutting process depend on several factors, including the type and thickness of the metal, the gas pressures, the nozzle size, and the cutting speed. Common applications of gas cutting include the cutting of steel plates for shipbuilding, construction, and manufacturing, as well as the removal of risers and gates from castings. While effective for steel, gas cutting is not suitable for non-ferrous metals like aluminum or copper, as their oxides have higher melting points and do not readily allow the oxygen jet to penetrate.