Perchloroethylene
Perchloroethylene (also known as tetrachloroethylene or PCE) is a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet odor, widely used as a solvent in dry cleaning and industrial degreasing. It has excellent solvent power for organic materials, is non-flammable, and chemically stable under normal conditions. Perchloroethylene is valued for its efficiency in removing oils, greases, and waxes from fabrics and metals, and serves as a key chemical intermediate in various industrial applications.
Perchloroethylene
Primary Uses
- Dry Cleaning Solvent
- The primary solvent used in commercial dry cleaning for removing oils, stains, and dirt from textiles without damaging the fabric.
- Provides effective cleaning with minimal fabric shrinkage or color loss.
- Industrial Degreasing
- Used to clean metal parts, machinery components, and electronic equipment by dissolving grease, oils, and wax residues.
- Suitable for vapor degreasing and cold cleaning processes.
- Chemical Intermediate
- Employed as a raw material in the manufacture of fluorocarbons and other chemical products.
- Extraction Solvent
- Used in laboratories and industrial processes to extract organic compounds from mixtures.
Secondary Uses
- Adhesive and Coatings Manufacturing
- Utilized as a solvent in adhesive formulations and specialty coatings.
- Textile and Leather Processing
- Applied in cleaning and finishing processes for textiles and leather goods.
- Pesticide Formulations
- Acts as a solvent carrier in certain pesticide products.
- Electronics Industry
- Used for cleaning delicate electronic components during manufacturing.
1. Basic Identification Attributes
- Chemical Name (IUPAC): Tetrachloroethylene
- Common/Trade Name: Perchloroethylene, PCE, Tetrachloroethene
- CAS Number: 127-18-4
- HS Code: 2903.39.00
- Synonyms: Perc, Dry cleaning solvent, Tetrachloroethene
2. Physical & Chemical Properties
- Physical State: Clear, colorless liquid
- Color & Odor: Odorless to sweet aromatic odor
- Boiling Point: 121°C
- Melting Point: -22.8°C
- Density: 1.62 g/cm³ at 20°C
- Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; miscible with most organic solvents
- Vapor Pressure: 18.3 kPa at 25°C
3. Safety & Hazard Attributes
- GHS Classification: Hazardous (Carcinogenic, harmful if inhaled or swallowed, causes skin and eye irritation)
- Toxicity: Moderate to high toxicity; potential carcinogen (IARC Group 2A)
- Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL - 100 ppm (8-hour TWA)
4. Storage & Handling Attributes
- Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat and ignition sources
- Container Type: Supplied in sealed metal drums or chemical-grade containers
- Shelf Life: Stable for several years if stored properly
- Handling Precautions: Use personal protective equipment; avoid inhalation and prolonged skin contact
5. Regulatory & Compliance Attributes
- Complies with EPA, OSHA, and REACH regulations
- Listed under various chemical inventories and reporting requirements
- Subject to strict environmental discharge and workplace exposure limits
6. Environmental & Health Impact
- Biodegradability: Poorly biodegradable; persistent in environment
- Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life; avoid release into waterways
- Bioaccumulation: Potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms
- Carcinogenicity/Mutagenicity: Classified as a probable human carcinogen (IARC Group 2A)
Safety Handling Precautions
- PPE Required: Respirators, gloves, chemical goggles, and protective clothing
- Handling Guidelines: Use in well-ventilated areas or under fume hoods; avoid skin and eye contact
- Storage Measures: Keep containers tightly closed; prevent vapor release
First Aid Measures
- Inhalation: Move to fresh air immediately; seek medical attention if breathing difficulty occurs
- Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing
- Eye Contact: Rinse thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes; seek medical attention
- Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting; seek immediate medical help
Firefighting Measures
- Fire Hazards: Non-flammable but decomposes to produce toxic gases under fire conditions
- Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, foam, dry chemical, or CO₂
- Special Precautions: Firefighters must wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
- Hazardous Combustion Products: Phosgene, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, and other toxic gases
Related products
Butanol
Butanol (also known as n-Butanol or Normal Butanol) is a clear, colorless liquid with a mild, alcoholic odor. It is a four-carbon primary alcohol with the chemical formula C4H10O. Butanol is moderately soluble in water and miscible with many organic solvents. Its physical and chemical properties make it a versatile solvent and chemical intermediate. Butanol indicates a high purity grade often used in industrial, pharmaceutical, and chemical synthesis applications.
Di Acetone Alcohol
Di Acetone Alcohol (chemical name: 4-Hydroxy-4-methylpentan-2-one) is a clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid with a mild acetone-like odor. It is a versatile organic solvent and intermediate widely used in the manufacture of coatings, adhesives, inks, and specialty chemicals. Di Acetone Alcohol exhibits excellent solvency for resins, oils, and fats, combined with moderate evaporation rate and low volatility compared to acetone, making it suitable for controlled drying applications. It also serves as a chemical intermediate in synthesis reactions and as a component in solvent blends to optimize performance and drying characteristics.
Engine Cleaner
Engine Cleaner (also known as Engine Degreaser) is a heavy-duty, solvent-based or aqueous-based chemical formulation designed to dissolve, emulsify, and remove stubborn petroleum-based contaminants from mechanical assemblies. Its primary function is to cut through and lift accumulated engine oil, grease, grime, carbon deposits, and road tar from internal combustion engines, machinery parts, and automotive components. Technical-grade engine cleaner is engineered for industrial, automotive repair, and fleet maintenance applications. It is not intended for use on active electronic components, certain plastics, or as a general-purpose household cleaner due to its potent chemical strength and potential corrosivity.
Isopropyl Alcohol Tech Grade (IPA)
Isopropyl Alcohol Tech Grade is a colorless, flammable liquid with a strong, characteristic alcohol odor. It is a solution containing approximately 85% isopropanol by volume, with the remainder primarily water. This technical-grade IPA is widely used as a solvent, disinfectant, and cleaning agent in industrial, pharmaceutical, and household applications. The 85% concentration balances efficacy with safety and evaporation rate, making it versatile for various uses.
Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane)
Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane), also known as methylene chloride, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet, chloroform-like odor. It is a chlorinated solvent widely used in industrial, pharmaceutical, and laboratory applications due to its excellent solvent properties, including high volatility, moderate polarity, and low boiling point (about 39.6°C). DCM is prized for its ability to dissolve a wide range of organic compounds, making it ideal for extraction, paint stripping, degreasing, and chemical processing. However, due to health and environmental concerns, its use is regulated and controlled in many countries.
N-Butanol
N-Butanol (1-butanol) is a four-carbon linear alcohol with the chemical formula C₄H₉OH. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a mild, alcoholic odor. N-Butanol is widely used as a solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, and chemical synthesis. It serves as an intermediate in the manufacture of plasticizers, butyl acrylate, and other chemicals. Its moderate volatility and solvent properties make it valuable in industrial and commercial applications.
Normal Butanol
Normal Butanol is a straight-chain primary alcohol with the chemical formula C4H10O. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a characteristic alcoholic odor. Known for its good solvent properties and moderate evaporation rate, n-Butanol is widely used in industrial applications such as solvents for paints, coatings, adhesives, and as an intermediate in chemical synthesis.
Trichloroethylene
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a clear, non-flammable chlorinated solvent with a sweet, chloroform-like odor. It is widely used as an industrial solvent for degreasing and cleaning metal parts, thanks to its excellent ability to dissolve oils, greases, and waxes. Trichloroethylene is also used as a chemical intermediate and in the manufacture of adhesives, paints, and coatings. Its volatility and solvency make it essential in many manufacturing and maintenance processes, although use is regulated due to environmental and health concerns.

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