Product Overview
Perchloroethylene — also called PCE, PERC, or tetrachloroethylene — is a chlorinated solvent built for processes where water-based cleaning cannot perform. It dissolves greases, oils, waxes, and resins on contact without leaving moisture behind, which is why it became the default solvent in professional dry cleaning and industrial vapor degreasing. This technical grade product (CAS 127-18-4) is available from Alliance Chemical in sizes from 1-quart bottles through 55-gallon drums, serving operations from a single parts washer to a high-volume dry cleaning plant.
PCE is a Class 6.1 hazmat material (per 49 CFR 172.101). Every shipment from our Taylor, TX facility is classified, packaged, and documented by trained hazmat personnel under USDOT Registration #2188383.
Why This Grade
Technical grade perchloroethylene is the workhorse specification for production-scale solvent work — dry cleaning machines, closed-loop vapor degreasers, and immersion parts washers where the process demands a strong, fast-evaporating solvent rather than an analytical-purity reagent. Buyers selecting technical grade are purchasing for solvent performance at an industrial price point: the ability to cut through machining oils, forming compounds, and shop-floor contamination without water rinsing or drying steps.
If your application requires documented purity against a specific analytical standard, review the technical data sheet to verify the specification fits your process. For most metal degreasing, textile cleaning, and chemical-intermediate uses, technical grade delivers the performance these operations require.
Chemical Profile
Perchloroethylene (molecular formula C₂Cl₄, molecular weight 165.8) appears as a clear, colorless, volatile liquid with an ether-like odor. It is noncombustible — a significant handling advantage over many organic solvents. The liquid is dense: approximately 1.63 g/mL at 68 °F (about 13.5 lb per gallon), substantially heavier than water, meaning spilled PCE will sink rather than float. It is practically insoluble in water (less than 0.1 mg/mL at 63 °F), which is precisely why it excels in applications where moisture must be excluded. Its vapor pressure of 14 mmHg at 68 °F makes it moderately volatile at room temperature — enough to evaporate cleanly from parts, but not so volatile that it flashes off instantly. Vapors are heavier than air and will accumulate at floor level in enclosed spaces, a critical ventilation consideration for any operator.
Industrial Applications
PCE serves several distinct industrial workflows, each exploiting its combination of solvency, density, non-flammability, and rapid evaporation.
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Metal degreasing. Vapor degreasing and immersion cleaning of machined, stamped, or fabricated metal parts. PCE dissolves cutting oils, drawing compounds, buffing residues, and flux without attacking the base metal. The solvent's non-flammability allows safe use in heated vapor degreasing equipment where flammable solvents would pose ignition risk.
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Dry cleaning. The textile care industry relies on PCE to remove oil-based stains, body oils, and grease from fabrics that cannot tolerate water immersion. Closed-loop dry cleaning machines recover and recycle the solvent, and the technical grade specification suits this continuous-use cycle.
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Chemical intermediate. PCE serves as a feedstock in the synthesis of fluorinated compounds and other chlorinated chemicals. Processors purchasing for this use typically require drum-scale quantities and consistent lot-to-lot composition.
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Laboratory solvent. Used in extraction and chromatographic techniques where a dense, water-immiscible solvent is needed. Lab operations typically purchase quart or gallon quantities.
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Adhesive and sealant formulation. PCE acts as a carrier solvent in certain adhesive and sealant systems, dissolving polymeric binders before application and then evaporating cleanly from the bond line.
Handling & Storage
Perchloroethylene carries a Danger signal word (per the product's GHS classification). Operators must understand the hazard profile before opening a container.
Health hazards: PCE may cause drowsiness or dizziness from vapor inhalation (H336), causes skin irritation (H315) and may cause allergic skin reactions (H317), causes serious eye irritation (H319), is suspected of causing cancer (H351), causes damage to organs (H370), and may cause organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure (H373) — all per the product's GHS classification. Work in well-ventilated areas or use local exhaust ventilation. Wear chemical-resistant gloves (butyl rubber or Viton recommended), splash-proof safety goggles, and a respirator rated for organic vapors when engineering controls are insufficient.
Environmental: Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (H411, per the product's GHS classification). Do not allow releases to drains, waterways, or soil. Dispose of waste solvent through a licensed hazardous waste hauler.
Storage: Keep containers tightly closed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources and direct sunlight. Store away from strong oxidizing agents and strong acids. Use original containers or vessels made of compatible materials such as HDPE or glass. Because PCE is denser than water and heavier than air, ensure that storage areas have floor-level ventilation to prevent vapor accumulation.
Spill response: Vapors are heavier than air and will pool in low-lying areas. Evacuate the immediate area, ventilate, and contain the spill with inert absorbent. PCE sinks in water — do not attempt to flush spills with water into drains.
Hazmat & Shipping
Perchloroethylene is a regulated hazardous material for transport. Every shipment ships with proper DOT classification and documentation prepared by our trained hazmat team.
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UN Number: UN1897 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: TETRACHLOROETHYLENE (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic) (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: III (per 49 CFR 172.101)
All packaging — from quart bottles to 55-gallon drums — meets the applicable performance standards for this classification. Shipping documentation, including hazmat shipping papers and emergency response information, accompanies every order.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order. SDS documents are available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) detailing product specifications is also available. Lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA) can be requested to verify composition against the specification for your incoming QC process.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
PCE is a Class 6.1 toxic material that demands correct classification, packaging, and documentation on every shipment — and Alliance Chemical has shipped hazmat chemicals from our Taylor, TX warehouse since 1998 under USDOT Registration #2188383. We offer this product in a range from quart bottles for bench-scale work to 55-gallon drums for production operations, so you order the quantity your process actually needs rather than adapting to a single container size.
Shipping and handling guidance on this page has been reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist. Over 50,000 customers have purchased chemicals from Alliance Chemical — industrial buyers who need their solvent to arrive correctly classified, properly packaged, and with the right paperwork.
