Bob Engelhardt wrote:
Abrasha wrote:

... After about half a minute they would hear a very loud bang
accompanied with a bright flash, as the lid was blasted off the can....


An example of how unstable acetylene is over a certain pressure? You
don't mention an igniter, so I'm assuming it was spontaneous. This is
giving me ideas. 8-)
Bob

I don't see how a milk can lid could hold to even a couple of PSI.
But, the carbide reaction is exothermic, IIRC. So, the stuff just
keeps getting hotter until it reaches the temperature to ignite
the Acetylene.

Jon