Trichloroethylene (TCE)

A high-chlorine speciality degreasing solvent with exceptional oil-dissolving power and outstanding chemical stability.

At a Glance

CAS No.	79-01-6
Chemical Name	Trichloroethylene (trichloroethene, TCE, ethylene trichloride)
Molecular Formula	C2HCl3
Purity	≥99%
Origin	China
Packaging	210 L steel drum (290 kg) / IBC / ISO tank container / small drum
Lead Time	15–20 working days after deposit

Product Overview

Trichloroethylene is a dedicated chlorinated organic solvent for industry, refined from acetylene by catalytic chlorination and continuous distillation. Purity holds at ≥99% with light ends and acidic impurities tightly controlled and consistent batch values, so it does not decompose or discolour in long storage. The liquid is clear and transparent with the characteristic chloroform-like odour and has extremely strong dissolving power for mineral lubricating oils, cutting oils, rust-preventive grease, paraffin wax and synthetic rubbers and resins — far beyond ordinary ester and hydrocarbon solvents.

It is not flammable, which makes vapour degreasing equipment safer to operate, and distillation recovery losses are low so the solvent can be recycled repeatedly, cutting a plant's solvent purchasing cost. Demand for refrigerant feedstock is rising with the new-energy vehicle thermal management industry, while high-precision machinery, aerospace components and PCB electronics manufacturing need high-cleanliness degreasing on a steady basis. Where closed-loop vapour cleaning processes are used, trichloroethylene has no substitute, and export demand keeps climbing year on year. It is chemically stable and can be stored long term when kept sealed and away from light; only strong light, strong alkalis and reactive metals need to be avoided.

Key Advantages

Exceptional Degreasing Power for Heavy Oil Contamination

Dissolving efficiency for cutting oils, drawing grease, rust-preventive wax and heavy stamping oil far exceeds ordinary solvents. A single vapour cleaning pass reaches the required cleanliness, so no repeat washing is needed and line cleaning time is much shorter.

Non-Flammable, Ideal for Closed Vapour Cleaning

A high lower explosion limit and better ignition behaviour than hydrocarbon or ester degreasers make it far safer in closed-loop vacuum cleaning equipment and cut fire risk on the shop floor.

Repeatedly Recoverable by Distillation, Low Long-Term Cost

A moderate boiling point makes impurity separation by distillation simple, with high recovery from spent liquid and many reuse cycles, so solvent purchasing spend falls noticeably versus single-use water-based cleaners.

No Corrosion of Metal Substrates, Suited to Precision Parts

Cleaning steel, aluminium, copper and alloy parts causes no oxidation or blackening. Aerospace and electronics precision components come out bright and residue-free, ready for downstream plating or painting.

Applications

Trichloroethylene is used across precision metal degreasing, fluorinated refrigerant synthesis, pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates and natural product extraction.

• Precision metal vapour degreasing — pre-plating oil removal for automotive parts, aerospace components, stamped hardware and PCB boards, stripping cutting oil, solder paste and rust-preventive wax to meet cleanliness specifications.
• Fluorinated refrigerant feedstock — a core precursor for R134a, R125 and other environmentally acceptable hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants used in new-energy vehicle air-conditioning systems.
• Pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates — a reaction medium for insecticide, agricultural fungicide and herbicide synthesis that improves purification yield of the active ingredient.
• Natural product extraction — high-efficiency separation and extraction of plant essential oils, animal fats, paraffin wax and mineral oils, giving fewer impurities and easier downstream separation.

Technical Specifications

Appearance	Colourless transparent liquid with a chloroform-like odour
Purity	≥99%
Molecular Formula	C2HCl3
CAS No.	79-01-6
EINECS No.	201-167-4
Relative Density (water = 1)	1.46 (at 20 °C)
Flash Point	No data available
Boiling Point	87.1 °C
Hazard Classification	Class 6.1 toxic substance
Stability	Relatively stable when stored sealed and away from light at ambient temperature; decomposes slowly on exposure to strong light or strong alkali, so avoid direct sunlight
Solubility	Insoluble in water; soluble in ethanol and ether and miscible with most organic solvents
Storage	Store separately in a cool, light-shielded hazardous chemicals warehouse at ≤32 °C with humidity kept below 80%. Keep containers sealed against air and do not store with strong alkalis, reactive metals or oxidisers. The area requires explosion-proof ventilation, absorbent sand for spills and dedicated firefighting equipment.

Composition

Component	Concentration	CAS No.
Trichloroethylene	≥99%	79-01-6

Transport & Compliance

UN No.	UN1710
Hazard Class	Class 6.1 toxic substance
Packing Group	III
HS Code	2903220000
Packaging	290 kg per drum (210 L steel drum)

UN and HS codes are shown for reference only — please confirm with us before shipment.

FAQ

What is your minimum order quantity?

Our MOQ is one 20GP container — up to 80 drums of 210 L.

What packaging do you offer?

Standard 210 L steel drums, plus IBC totes, ISO tank containers and small drums.

How many drums fit in a 20GP or 40GP, and can you consolidate?

Yes, we consolidate up to 5 product types in one shipment. A 20GP holds up to 80 drums (210 L); a 40GP holds around 130 drums (210 L).

What is the lead time?

15–20 working days after the deposit is received.

Which export documents do you provide?

COA, MSDS, commodity inspection certificate and dangerous goods packaging certificate. We can also assist with Certificate of Origin and other customs paperwork.

What payment terms do you accept?

T/T: 30% deposit, 70% balance against a copy of the Bill of Lading.

Technical Documents