Detailed Product Description:

 

A colorless non-flammable liquid with ether-like odor.  Miscible in most

 

oils, alcohol, and ether.  Non-soluble in water.  Commonly used as a dry

 

cleaning solvent for clothing or for vapor-degreasing of metal parts and

 

precision instruments.

 

 

Grade/Purity:

 

This is electronics grade material with minimum purity of 99.5%.

 

 

Background:

 

Tetrachloroethylene, most commonly known as perchloroethylene, perc,

 

and PCE, is a chlorinated hydrocarbon.  It has a sweet odor detectable

 

by most people at a concentration of 1 part per million (1 ppm).

 

 

Production

 

Most tetrachloroethylene is produced by high temperature chlorinolysis

 

of light hydrocarbons.  The method is related to Faraday's discovery since

 

hexachloroethane is generated and thermally decomposes.  Side products

 

include carbon tetrachloride, hydrogen chloride, and hexachlorobutadiene.

 

 

Applications:

 

Most tetrachloroethylene is consumed as a solvent used in dry cleaning.  

 

It is desirable because it dissolves many organic materials, it is volatile,

 

highly stable, and nonflammable.  Usually as a mixture with other

 

chlorocarbons, it is used to degrease metal parts in the automotive and

 

other metalworking industries.  It appears in a few consumer products

 

including paint strippers and spot removers.  It is also used as a solvent

 

for proton NMR spectroscopy.

 

 

Precautions:

 

Like many chlorinated hydrocarbons, perc is a central nervous system

 

depressant, and inhaling its vapors (particularly in closed, poorly-ventilated

 

areas) can cause dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, difficulty

 

in speaking and walking, unconsciousness, and even death.

 

 

 

After repeated or extended skin contact, it may dissolve fats from the skin,

 

resulting in severe skin irritation in work environments where people have

 

been exposed to high concentrations.

 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified perc as a

 

Group 2A carcinogen, which means that it expected to be carcinogenic to humans.

 

Irritant to eyes, nose and skin.  TLV = 50ppm

 

 

Click here to download copy of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

 

 

Packaging:

 

Comes packed in a 1 Gallon metal can.  55 gallon drum pricing is available on request.