Project Report on Chlorinated Paraffin Wax (CPW)

CPWs are chlorinated normal-alkanes with carbon chain lengths of between 10 and 30 carbon atoms and chlorinated to 40% to 70% by weight. General formula for Chlorinated Paraffins CxH(2x-y+2)Cly. Chlorinated paraffins (CPW) are made by chlorinating the paraffin fractions obtained from petroleum distillation. The paraffins are reacted  with chlorine, resulting in chlorinated  paraffins with varying degree of chlorination. Chlorinated paraffins are classified as chlorinated hydrocarbons that have the general formula [CnH(2n-y)+2] cly. They were first  prepared in 1858 by P.A Bolley. Significant commercial use of chlorinated paraffin did not develop until  the early 1930,  when they were first used for fire retardant and waterproof canvas material and in the material working industry as extreme pressure additives for lubricating oils. The raw materials used for chlorination consists of petroleum fractions such as normal paraffin {at least 98% Linear and wax freestones averaging as many as twenty from carbon atoms. There are a number of raw materials available however. Commercial chlorinated paraffins have 20-70% chlorine content. The bulk of the manufactured product fall with in the 40-70% cl range. Table I contains a list of commercial chlorinated paraffins. The important physical properties of the chlorinated paraffins include viscosity, solubility, Color & thermal  instability. For a given paraffin, increasing chlorine content enhances viscosity and specific gravity.