What materials are oxygen cylinders primarily made of?

Oxygen cylinders are primarily constructed from steel or aluminum to ensure strength and durability under high pressure. Steel is commonly used due to its robustness and ability to withstand the intense conditions that oxygen cylinders may encounter during storage and transportation. While it may seem intuitive to think that the contents of the cylinder are part of its material, the cylinder itself is designed to hold compressed oxygen safely.

Although aluminum can also be used for oxygen cylinders because it is lighter than steel, the emphasis in this context is on the material chosen for constructing the cylinder itself, which is typically steel for high-pressure applications. The mention of "100 percent oxygen" refers to the contents of the cylinder rather than the materials from which it is made. It’s important to differentiate between the material of the cylinder and the actual gas it contains. The structural integrity provided by these materials is crucial for safety during torch operations and in various applications where oxygen is required.