What is Perchloroethylene?-Chemical Industry Key Chemicals

In the chemical industry, perchloroethylene, as an important chemical raw material, is widely used in plastics, coatings and rubber industries. What is perchloroethylene? Why is it important, how it is produced and what are its applications? This article will answer these questions in detail.

PERCHLORIDE DEFINITION AND BASIC PROPERTIES

Perchloroethylene (C2H2Cl4), also known as 1,1, 2,2-tetrachloroethylene, is a colorless liquid with a volatile and slightly pungent odor. Its molecule contains two vinyl groups (C = C) and four chlorine atoms (Cl). The molecular structure of perchloroethylene makes it have high chemical stability and corrosion resistance, which makes it widely used in many industrial fields.

physical and chemical characteristics

Perchloroethylene has a melting point of -22°C, a boiling point of 121°C and a density of 1.62g/cm³. It is almost insoluble in water, but can be dissolved in most organic solvents, such as alcohols, ethers, etc. Its high boiling point and excellent solubility make perchloroethylene an important application in solvents, degreasing and cleaning agents.

Perchloroethylene production methods

How to produce perchloroethylene? Perchloroethylene is usually produced by the chlorinated ethylene process. Ethylene (C2H4) is one of the raw materials for perchloroethylene, while chlorine (Cl2) is another key raw material. By reacting ethylene with chlorine under appropriate conditions, vinyl chloride is formed. Next, the vinyl chloride is further subjected to a chlorination reaction to obtain perchloroethylene.

Production Process Brief

1. Ethylene chlorination: Ethylene and chlorine react to produce vinyl chloride.
2. Vinyl chloride secondary chlorination: under the action of the catalyst, vinyl chloride is continued to chlorinate, and finally produce perchloroethylene.
3. Refining and purification: the obtained perchloroethylene product needs to be refined to remove impurities and ensure its quality.

This mode of production requires precise reaction control to ensure product purity and reaction efficiency.

Perchloroethylene main application areas

What are the main uses of perchloroethylene? Perchloroethylene is widely used in the chemical industry, especially in plastic manufacturing, cleaning agents and coatings.

1. Plastic and resin manufacturing

Perchloroethylene can be used as one of the important raw materials for the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is widely used in pipes, cables, flooring materials and other fields. Perchloroethylene has an irreplaceable role in the field of plastics because of its stability and corrosion resistance.

2. Cleaning agent and solvent

Because of its good dissolving power, perchloroethylene is commonly used in industry to clean metal surfaces and remove grease and dirt. It can quickly dissolve grease, resin, paint, etc., making it an efficient industrial cleaning agent.

3. Coatings and adhesives

Perchloroethylene is also used in the manufacture of coatings and adhesives, especially in environments requiring high corrosion resistance and resistance to chemical attack. Its strong solubility makes it play a key role in paint formulations.

Perchloroethylene safety and environmental impact

Although perchloroethylene has a wide range of applications in the chemical industry, its safety and environmental impact cannot be ignored. Perchloroethylene has certain toxicity, and long-term exposure may cause harm to human health. Therefore, when using perchloroethylene, the relevant safety practices must be strictly observed.

Health risks and safety measures

Inhalation, skin contact or ingestion of perchloroethylene may affect human health, especially to the nervous system and liver. When handling perchloroethylene, workers are required to wear appropriate protective equipment such as respirators, protective gloves and goggles. A well-ventilated working environment is also essential.

Environmental impact

The volatility of perchloroethylene makes it easy to release into the atmosphere during use, causing pollution to the environment. Especially in the process of handling and storage, if leakage occurs, it may cause air and water pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the storage management and waste gas treatment of perchloroethylene to reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Conclusion: Perchloroethylene Importance and Prospects

In summary, what is perchloroethylene? It is a key raw material in the chemical industry and is widely used in the fields of plastic manufacturing, cleaning agents and coatings. Perchloroethylene plays an important role in many industrial processes due to its excellent chemical stability and solubility. With the improvement of environmental awareness, how to effectively reduce the environmental risk of perchloroethylene will be the focus of the chemical industry in the future.

Through strict production control and environmental protection measures, perchloroethylene will continue to play an indispensable role in many industries.