Tetrachloroethylene: Overview
Description
The largest user of tetrachloroethylene is the dry cleaning industry. It is a large percentage of all dry cleaning fluid used. Textile mills, vapour degreasers and metal cleaning operations, and rubber coatings also use tetrachloroethylene. It can be added to solvent soaps, printing inks, adhesives, sealants, polishes, lubricants and silicones.
Substance details
Substance name: Tetrachloroethylene
CASR number: 127-18-4
Molecular formula: C2Cl4
Synonyms: Perchloroethylene; PERK; PERC; Ethylene tetrachloride; tetrachloroethene; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene; carbon dichloride; perchlor; tetrachloroethane; carbon bichloride; perk
Physical properties
Tetrachloroethylene is a colourless liquid solvent. Although it is a liquid at room temperature, some will evaporate giving a sweet ether like odour.
Melting Point: -22.3°C
Boiling Point: 121.1°C
Specific Gravity: 1.623
Vapour Density: 5.8
Chemical properties
Tetrachloroethylene is nonflammable and mostly insoluble in water.
Further information
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of Tetrachloroethylene in Australia.
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