Product Overview
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Technical Grade is a chlorinated solvent built for aggressive degreasing and high-solvency industrial work. It is a clear, colorless, volatile liquid with a characteristic ethereal odor — unmistakable the moment you crack a container. TCE dissolves oils, greases, waxes, and resins that weaker solvents leave behind, which is why it remains a workhorse in metal finishing, parts cleaning, and adhesive formulation.
We stock and ship this product from our Taylor, TX facility in containers from 1-quart bottles through 55-gallon drums, packed and labeled for DOT hazmat transport. It is made for industrial operators — machine shops, plating lines, coating formulators, and analytical labs — who need a solvent that cuts through contamination and evaporates cleanly.
Why This Grade
Technical Grade TCE is specified for industrial process use where reagent-level purity certification is unnecessary. It delivers consistent solvency for vapor degreasing, cold cleaning, and formulation work at a lower cost point than ACS or reagent grades. If your process does not demand a certificate of analysis traceable to ACS specifications, Technical Grade is the practical choice — same base solvent performance, fewer documentation costs built into the price.
Pick Technical Grade when the application is parts cleaning, adhesive blending, or solvent extraction where the TCE is consumed or recovered. If your analytical method explicitly calls for a certified reagent-grade solvent, step up accordingly — but for production floor work, Technical Grade is what most shops run.
Chemical Profile
Trichloroethylene has the molecular formula C₂HCl₃ and a molecular weight of 131.38 g/mol (CAS 79-01-6). It presents as a clear, colorless liquid with an ethereal odor detectable at low concentrations. The liquid is notably dense at 1.46 g/mL at 68 °F — it sinks in water rather than floating, a property that matters for separator design and spill response. TCE is only slightly soluble in water (less than 1 mg/mL at 70 °F), maintaining a distinct phase when it contacts aqueous systems. Vapor pressure runs 60 mmHg at 68 °F and climbs to 77 mmHg at 77 °F, so expect noticeable off-gassing at room temperature. Ventilation is not optional — it is mandatory anywhere this solvent is open to air.
Industrial Applications
TCE's value is its solvency. It dissolves hydrocarbon-based contaminants fast and evaporates without residue. These are the primary uses we see from the buyers who order it:
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Metal Degreasing — TCE is a standard vapor-degreasing solvent for machined parts, stampings, and assemblies. It strips cutting oils, drawing compounds, and fingerprint residues from steel, aluminum, and copper alloys before plating, welding, or coating. In a vapor degreaser, TCE condenses on the cooler workpiece, dissolves the grease, and drips back to the sump — a continuous distillation cycle that keeps the cleaning solvent fresh throughout the shift.
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Adhesive and Coating Formulation — Formulators use TCE as a carrier solvent in contact adhesives, rubber cements, and specialty coatings. Its fast evaporation rate and ability to dissolve a broad range of resins make it effective in formulations that require controlled drying and strong initial bond development.
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Chemical Extraction — TCE serves as an extraction solvent in liquid-liquid separation processes. Its immiscibility with water and high solvency for organic compounds make it a practical choice for isolating target compounds from aqueous mixtures.
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Analytical Solvent — Laboratories use TCE for chromatographic sample preparation and as a medium in infrared spectroscopy. Technical Grade handles routine analytical work where the method does not specify a certified reagent-grade solvent.
Handling & Storage
TCE carries a Danger signal word (per the product's GHS classification). Read every statement before you handle it:
- H315 — Causes skin irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
- H317 — May cause an allergic skin reaction (per the product's GHS classification)
- H319 — Causes serious eye irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
- H336 — May cause drowsiness or dizziness (per the product's GHS classification)
- H341 — Suspected of causing genetic defects (per the product's GHS classification)
- H350 — May cause cancer (per the product's GHS classification)
- H412 — Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects (per the product's GHS classification)
Wear chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or butyl rubber), splash-proof safety goggles, and work only in areas with mechanical ventilation or under a fume hood. TCE vapor is heavier than air and will pool in low spots — monitor for vapor buildup in pits, sumps, and enclosed spaces. Respiratory protection is required if engineering controls cannot keep airborne concentrations below applicable exposure limits.
Store in tightly sealed HDPE or glass containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat sources, open flame, and direct sunlight. Keep away from strong oxidizers and strong acids — contact can cause violent reactions or decomposition to toxic gases. TCE is noncombustible under normal conditions, but its thermal decomposition products are acutely hazardous. Keep containers closed when not actively dispensing to prevent evaporative loss and vapor accumulation.
Hazmat & Shipping
Every shipment of TCE from our facility is classified, packaged, marked, and labeled to current DOT requirements:
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UN Number: UN1710 (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)
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Proper Shipping Name: TRICHLOROETHYLENE (per 49 CFR 172.101)
We ship TCE daily via ground carriers certified for hazmat freight. Containers are packed in DOT-compliant packaging with absorbent material and proper hazmat labels. Shipping papers and emergency response information are prepared by our trained hazmat personnel for every outbound load.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available — contact us to request one for your shipment. If your facility requires documentation packages for EHS compliance or incoming quality verification, we can assemble them before or at time of shipment.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
We are a hazmat chemical distributor operating out of Taylor, TX, and we ship TCE every day. Our warehouse team handles, packs, and labels every container to DOT standards — this is what we do for thousands of shipments a year. Shipping and handling guidance for this product has been reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist. When you order TCE from Alliance Chemical, you receive product that was stored correctly, packed by trained handlers, and shipped with complete hazmat documentation. No third-party dropship, no mystery sourcing — it leaves our dock.
