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| HS Code | 418414 |
| Chemical Name | Tetrachloroethylene |
| Chemical Formula | C2Cl4 |
| Cas Number | 127-18-4 |
| Molecular Weight | 165.83 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
| Odor | Ether-like or sweet odor |
| Density | 1.622 g/cm3 at 20 °C |
| Melting Point | -22.0 °C |
| Boiling Point | 121.3 °C |
| Solubility In Water | 0.015 g/100 mL at 25 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 1.9 kPa at 20 °C |
As an accredited Tetrachloroethylene factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Tetrachloroethylene, 200 L drum. Clear, colorless liquid with sweet odor. Steel drum with secure lid, proper labeling for safe handling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: Tetrachloroethylene in UN-approved drums/IBCs, securely stowed and blocked, as per dangerous goods regulations. |
| Shipping | Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) is a non-flammable, toxic liquid shipped as UN 1897, Class 6.1 (PG III). Transport in properly labeled steel drums, intermediate bulk containers, or ISO tanks. Ensure ventilation, employee training, and spill containment. Follow hazardous materials regulations for road, rail, sea, and air; avoid release into waterways. |
| Storage | Store tetrachloroethylene in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep containers tightly sealed and upright, using corrosion-resistant materials. Separate from strong oxidizers, aluminum, and food items. Ensure secondary containment and proper labeling to prevent spills, vapor accumulation, and environmental contamination. |
| Shelf Life | Stable chemical; shelf life at least 2 years when stored sealed, cool, dry, and away from light. |
Dry cleaning machines that operate on tetrachloroethylene are configured as closed-loop dry-to-dry systems in which wash, extract, and tumble-dry cycles occur inside the same rotating cage. Working solvent volume is matched to the rated load rather than to a fixed global ratio; field configurations commonly install solvent reservoirs sized between 8 and 12 L per kilogram of dry garments, but the actual fill level is adjusted by the machine controller to maintain mechanical action and to avoid fluid drag that reduces wash uniformity. A typical high-production cycle washes at low drum speed for 3–10 minutes, drains the spent solvent through a button-trap filter, extracts residual free liquor by centrifugal force, and then dries the load with recirculating air heated to 45–60°C. The air stream passes through a refrigerated condenser, which recovers the bulk of the solvent from the wet airstream, and then through an activated-carbon adsorber that controls the residual vapour concentration before air is returned to the drum. Separate distillation of the solvent inventory is performed at approximately 121°C, leaving nonvolatile soil, emulsified water, and degraded sizing residues as still bottoms. Compliance is defined by ASTM D4081-00 for drycleaning-grade tetrachloroethylene, by ISO 8230:2008 for machine safety, and by 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart M for U.S. air emission limits. Workplace exposure is benchmarked against the OSHA PEL 100 ppm 8-hour TWA and the more restrictive ACGIH TLV-TWA 25 ppm. The operational boundary is water and plasticizer management: free water promotes dechlorination and acid formation, so water separators, desiccant cartridges, and regular stabilizer addition after distillation are required. Garments containing polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, or solvent-sensitive elastomers must be removed before loading because tetrachloroethylene can swell these materials or extract plasticizer, leading to stiffening, seam failure, or transfer of solvated polymer residues to non-target textiles. The terminal output is the cleaned garment lot, but process control is driven by solvent purity, distillation rate, and residual solvent in the exhausted dry load rather than by visual cleanliness alone.
Open-top vapour degreasing with tetrachloroethylene is governed by the thermodynamic balance between the boiling sump and the condensation front on the work load. The solvent has a boiling point of 121.2°C at 101.3 kPa and a vapour density of 5.7 relative to air, so a dense vapour zone can be maintained below the chilled freeboard lip while the upper air boundary is stabilized by water or refrigerated coils. Cold metal parts entering the vapour zone cause solvent vapour to condense on the surface, dissolve cutting oils, drawing compounds, waxes, and particulate residues, and then drain back to the sump. The part reaches solvent vapour temperature when condensate flow stops, signalling the end of the pure-vapour rinse stage. The limiting load parameter is the thermal mass of the basket. If a large batch of cold parts is introduced too rapidly, the vapour blanket collapses, condensing on the walls and reducing the freeboard concentration below the operating point. Equipment manufacturers therefore specify a freeboard ratio of at least 0.75, meaning the distance from the liquid surface to the tank lip is not less than 0.75 times the tank width, and part entry speed is controlled by motorized hoists. Vapour-degreasing-grade solvent is specified by ASTM D4376-02, and U.S. degreasing emissions fall under 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart T. The process solvent is maintained with an acid acceptance stabilizer that neutralizes trace hydrogen chloride generated by hydrolysis. Water contamination is controlled by sump decanting because free water in a boiling chlorinated solvent system can produce acid and accelerate metal etching. Parts that are highly porous, have blind holes, or are stacked with capillary gaps require extended dwell times because retained liquid is not fully removed when the surface temperature reaches the vapour point. Reactive light metals, particularly aluminum and magnesium, are generally avoided unless a specific stabilizer formulation and controlled water content are validated, because dechlorination at the metal surface can form acidic decomposition products. The end use of degreased parts is downstream surface preparation for electroplating, weld qualification, brazing, phosphating, or structural adhesive bonding, where residual nonvolatile film must be below the process-specific maximum set by the coating or joining specification.
| Segment | Solvent grade | Equipment and safety reference | Emission and exposure benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry cleaning | ASTM D4081-00 | ISO 8230:2008 | 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart M; OSHA PEL 100 ppm 8-hour TWA; ACGIH TLV-TWA 25 ppm |
| Vapour degreasing | ASTM D4376-02 | 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart T; freeboard ratio ≥0.75 | OSHA PEL 100 ppm; ACGIH TLV-TWA 25 ppm |
The chlorination of tetrachloroethylene to hexachloroethane is an exothermic addition across the double bond, and continuous feedstock trains are designed around heat removal rather than solvent stabilization. In the primary reactor, chlorine gas is sparged into liquid tetrachloroethylene in a glass-lined or fluoropolymer-lined vessel. The stoichiometric requirement is one mole of chlorine per mole of tetrachloroethylene to saturate the double bond, but excess chlorine is normally supplied in the recycle loop to compensate for vent losses and to drive residual double-bond consumption toward completion. The resulting hexachloroethane is then fluorinated with hydrogen fluoride in a fixed-bed or fluid-bed reactor over a chromium-based catalyst. In the specific conversion of hexachloroethane to trichlorotrifluoroethane, the balanced stoichiometry requires three moles of hydrogen fluoride per mole of hexachloroethane and generates three moles of hydrogen chloride as co-product. This route was used historically for CFC-113 production, and related fluorinated ethane intermediates remain subject to the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment phaseout schedules. The material balance at the fluorination reactor is set by the number of chlorine atoms replaced by fluorine. Each substitution releases hydrogen chloride, which is recovered in a water scrubber and routed to aqueous acid storage. Reactor metallurgy is critical because hydrogen fluoride at elevated temperature attacks carbon steel. Process lines use Hastelloy C or Inconel alloys, and moisture ingress is limited to avoid acceleration of acid corrosion. Catalyst deactivation by polymerized organic residues and moisture is the principal operational constraint. Published data for catalyst life under specific feedstock arrangements is limited because performance depends on feedstock purity and stabilizer contamination. Unlike cleaning grades, feedstock tetrachloroethylene is not required to sustain a stabilizer package, but iron contamination from storage tanks can enter the reactor and shorten catalyst cycle time. The terminal output is a separated chemical substance that enters downstream refrigerant or foam-blowing-agent precursor production, not a finished formulated product.
In silicone-based mold release and industrial anti-tack formulations, tetrachloroethylene functions as a vaporizing carrier rather than as a reactive diluent or crosslinking agent. High-viscosity dimethylpolysiloxane fluids or silicone resin concentrates are diluted to sprayable consistency for application to tire curing bladders, rubber compression molds, or metal conveyor belts. Published formulation-specific data are limited, but industrial spray systems are typically adjusted by viscosity rather than by a fixed solvent-to-silicone mass ratio. The dilution ratio varies with the starting silicone fluid viscosity, the spray nozzle orifice, and the desired film thickness after flash-off. The carrier evaporates at ambient or slightly elevated mold temperature, leaving a uniform silicone film that reduces sticking during rubber vulcanization without significantly altering cure kinetics. The absence of a flash point under standard closed-cup tests allows the formulation to be used where electrical or open-flame hazards would rule out low-boiling aliphatic carriers. Compliance for these formulated products is governed by EU CLP classification and local VOC emission rules rather than by a single solvent grade specification. The operational limitation is compatibility with active cure package components. Amine-containing silicone systems and moisture-sensitive adhesion promoters can interact with chlorinated decomposition products if the solvent is exposed to excessive heat or UV radiation. Stock rotation, lined containers, and storage away from direct sunlight are therefore required. The terminal end product is a thermally stable release film or dry lubricant film bonded to the mold or belt surface after the carrier flashes off.
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Tetrachloroethylene, assigned CAS 127-18-4, is a chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon of formula C2Cl4 and molecular weight 165.82 g/mol. The compound is also known as perchloroethylene or PCE. At ambient pressure it is a clear liquid with a boiling point of 121.2 °C, density of 1.6227 g/cm³ at 20 °C, vapour pressure of 14 mm Hg (1.9 kPa) at 20 °C, and surface tension of approximately 32.2 mN/m. Commercial product designations are not universal; the material is commonly segregated as stabilised vapour-degreasing grade, dry cleaning grade, and high-purity chemical intermediate grade. Vapour-degreasing grade is usually purchased under ASTM D4376-15, while dry cleaning and chemical intermediate grades are often controlled by supplier-specific specifications because published consensus product standards are limited. Tetrachloroethylene does not exhibit a flash point under standard closed-cup methods, but it is not thermally inert: stabiliser depletion or contact with incompatible metals can generate hydrogen chloride and acidic degradation products. The dense solvent is heavier than water and forms a separate phase in gravity separators, which is a central design factor in vapour degreasing and dry cleaning equipment.
Purchase of vapour-degreasing grade material under ASTM D4376-15 is the most common route for metal cleaning operations. The standard defines acceptance testing for colour and appearance, specific gravity, distillation range, acidity, water content, and non-volatile residue. Acidity is expressed as hydrogen chloride and is controlled because acidic solvent attacks carbon steel components and accelerates metal-catalysed dehydrochlorination. Water content is typically measured by ASTM D3401, acid acceptance by ASTM D2942, and distillation range by ASTM D1078; buyers should confirm the exact method designation because the supplier certificate of analysis may reference an older revision or a harmonised internal method. Stabilised grades contain a low-ppm inhibitor package, usually an acid acceptor and a metal deactivator, to neutralise hydrogen chloride and Lewis acid metal chlorides generated under thermal stress. In service, the solvent is monitored by acid acceptance rather than by inhibitor concentration, and it is replenished according to supplier-specific addition schedules. A well-maintained sump typically operates with acid acceptance above the supplier minimum; when acid acceptance drops, the solvent can become corrosive before visible discoloration occurs. Because water is the principal hydrolysis co-reactant, moist parts, wet air, and uncovered degreaser lids shorten the useful life of the stabiliser package. ASTM D4376-15 does not set a single universal limit for every proprietary inhibitor package; trade users therefore combine the standard with a purchase specification that records the exact stabiliser chemistry and the minimum acid acceptance at delivery.
Differences among chlorinated solvents in immersion cleaning become material at the sump, not only in the solvent data sheet. The table below compares representative values for tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and methylene chloride. These values are drawn from public safety data sheets and atmospheric-pressure reference data; they are not purchase specifications.
| Property | Tetrachloroethylene | Trichloroethylene | Methylene chloride |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAS registry number | 127-18-4 | 79-01-6 | 75-09-2 |
| Molecular weight | 165.82 g/mol | 131.39 g/mol | 84.93 g/mol |
| Boiling point at atmospheric pressure | 121.2 °C | 87.2 °C | 39.8 °C |
| Density at 20 °C | 1.6227 g/cm³ | 1.464 g/cm³ | 1.326 g/cm³ |
| Vapour pressure at 20 °C | 14 mm Hg (1.9 kPa) | 58 mm Hg (7.7 kPa) | 350 mm Hg (46.5 kPa) |
| Kauri-butanol value | 90 | 130 | 136 |
Tetrachloroethylene has the highest boiling point and the lowest vapour pressure of the three chlorinated materials shown in the table. In a vapour degreaser this means lower evaporative losses at the freeboard but also higher part temperature at the end of the vapour cycle. The Kauri-butanol value of approximately 90 is lower than that of trichloroethylene at approximately 130 and methylene chloride at approximately 136, indicating that tetrachloroethylene is a slower-acting solvent for heavily oxidized oils and polymerized fats. The deficiency is partly offset by the higher boiling point; heat softens waxes and soils, so the lower solvency does not always reduce cleaning productivity. In immersion cleaning of ceramics and metal parts, the density of 1.6227 g/cm³ provides strong solvent-soil displacement, but the high density also means equipment pumps, seals, and water separators must be sized for a liquid heavier than water. Modified alcohol and hydrocarbon blends are common non-chlorinated alternatives; their flammability requires explosion-proof equipment and vapour concentration control, whereas tetrachloroethylene can be used in equipment built to the halogenated solvent cleaning NESHAP in 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart T. The choice between tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene is usually set by operating temperature, soil type, and air permit conditions, because trichloroethylene has a lower boiling point and higher vapour pressure but a narrower thermal stability window in unstabilised service.
In open-top vapour degreasers, the working solvent is not a pure liquid but a dynamic mixture of stabilised chlorinated hydrocarbon, dissolved air, water, and metal soaps. The two main degradation pathways are hydrolysis and metal-catalysed dehydrochlorination. Hydrolysis proceeds when water from wet parts or humid air condenses into the sump and separates as a phase above the heavier solvent; solvent-water contact increases the formation of chlorinated acetic acid derivatives, which are measured by acid acceptance titration. Metal-catalysed dehydrochlorination occurs when iron chloride, aluminium chloride, or zinc chloride accumulates in the sump, usually after fine metal particles enter with the workload or through corrosion. Lewis acid metal chlorides accelerate the removal of hydrogen chloride from the solvent molecule, and the liberated hydrogen chloride corrodes carbon steel and stainless steel equipment and can etch zinc, aluminium, and magnesium parts. This is why stabilised vapour-degreasing grades contain both an acid acceptor and a metal deactivator; the acid acceptor neutralises hydrogen chloride, and the metal deactivator binds or deactivates metal ions before they initiate further breakdown. Neither additive is permanent. The acid acceptor is consumed over time, which is why the operating limit is not stabiliser concentration but acid acceptance determined by ASTM D2942 on a sump sample. Water content should be checked by ASTM D3401; if the water separator is not drained or the freeboard ratio is below the equipment standard in 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart T, water ingress increases and the stabiliser package is depleted more quickly. The freeboard ratio and cooling coil temperature determine vapour containment; published data for specific degreaser models is limited, but field experience in production-scale open-top units shows that visible vapour loss and odour complaints correlate with insufficient freeboard, high air movement, and excessive part withdrawal speed. Thermal decomposition of stabilised tetrachloroethylene can occur at hot spots on heating elements. The use of low-heat-flux steam coils or thermostatically controlled electric immersion heaters reduces wall temperatures below the point where rapid degradation begins. Aluminium parts and aluminium fines are a specific hazard; when aluminium contacts heated chlorinated solvents in the presence of water, the resulting aluminium chloride can accelerate dehydrochlorination and has caused runaway corrosion in poorly maintained degreasers. Production lines therefore exclude aluminium chips from the solvent sump and monitor acid acceptance after every shift when aluminium finishing operations are nearby.
In closed-loop dry cleaning machines, tetrachloroethylene leaves the base tank through lint filters, is pumped through solvent filters, and is injected into the cage where it extracts oils, greases, and waxes from textiles. Dry cleaning grades are stabilised differently from vapour-degreasing grades because the solvent is continuously distilled in the still and repeatedly heated; acidic still residues can corrode stainless steel and attack the distillation heater. The still separates non-volatile soils and spent filter powder from recovered solvent; moisture and acidic extraction products are removed or neutralised before the recovered solvent returns to the base tank. In the United States, perchloroethylene dry cleaning equipment is regulated under 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart M, which sets equipment leak standards, drainage and separator requirements, and waste management practices. Compared with hydrocarbon dry cleaning fluid, tetrachloroethylene is nonflammable and denser than water, which allows simpler fire suppression systems but requires leak-detection and vapour recovery because it is a halogenated solvent and a listed hazardous waste when spent. Compared with high-flash-point glycol ethers or silicone-based fluids, tetrachloroethylene is more aggressive toward oily soils but has a lower occupational exposure limit and greater legacy soil and groundwater contamination concerns. The solvent does not remove water-soluble stains; those are addressed by pre-spotting or moisture injection, not by the primary solvent itself. Equipment load size, distillation rate, and separator temperature are not arbitrary: a high distillation rate shortens the solvent residence time but can carry over soil-laden foam; a low rate increases energy use per kilogram of fabric. Published data for specific machine models in this configuration is limited, so service adjustments rely on supplier-specific recovery and maintenance schedules.
Catalytic halogen exchange processes using tetrachloroethylene as feedstock impose tight limits on water and olefinic impurities because moisture consumes hydrogen fluoride and unsaturated chlorinated impurities can form carbonaceous deposits on catalyst surfaces. Producers specify low water content, often using ASTM D3401 or an equivalent Karl Fischer procedure, and suppress the formation of tars by controlling distillation range and residue after evaporation. High-purity chemical intermediate grades are specified with a minimum assay determined by the downstream catalyst vendor and confirmed by gas chromatography; published data for a single universal limit is limited because acceptable impurity levels depend on the catalyst system and reactor metallurgy. The same high-boiling liquid properties that make the solvent suitable for vapour degreasing are less relevant in continuous downstream processing, where pump sizing, vaporiser fouling, and corrosion of Monel or Inconel piping are the main engineering constraints. Chloride release from degradation of the organic molecule or from water-induced hydrolysis must be managed with corrosion-resistant alloys and continuous acid-gas scrubbing. Tetrachloroethylene used in this route is not interchangeable with stabilised vapour-degreasing grade because the inhibitor package can poison fluorination catalysts; only an unstabilised, low-water, high-assay grade is suitable.
Industrial hygiene compliance for tetrachloroethylene is governed by actual air concentration, not by the absence of flash point. The OSHA permissible exposure limit under 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 is 100 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average. ACGIH has assigned a threshold limit value of 25 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average, and NIOSH lists an immediately dangerous to life or health value of 150 ppm. IARC Monographs Volume 106 classifies tetrachloroethylene as Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans, which makes exposure reduction through local exhaust ventilation, cool-down periods, and sealed solvent handling systems a compliance requirement rather than a best practice. Air sampling is commonly performed using a solid sorbent tube followed by gas chromatography; the user must validate the sampling method against the contaminant concentration range and humidity conditions expected in the work area. The solvent has poor biodegradability under aerobic shallow-soil conditions and can form a dense non-aqueous phase liquid in groundwater because its specific gravity is greater than water and its aqueous solubility is low. Spent solvent generated from degreasing operations may be regulated as listed hazardous waste under 40 CFR 261.31 when it meets the spent halogenated solvent listing for degreasing. Disposal must follow the waste analysis plan and hazardous waste manifest requirements of the receiving facility. In service, the operational boundary is set by acid acceptance, water content, and stabiliser concentration; once acid acceptance falls below the supplier minimum, the solvent must be replaced or distilled and re-stabilised because continuing operation can damage carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminium components.
