Chlorinated paraffin is a viscous and yellowish or colourless dense oil that finds a lot of usage in various industries and plays a great role in the creation of PVC flooring. It offers low-temperature strength and flame retardancy. Apart from this, it also enhances the flexibility of the materials. The use of chlorinated paraffin wax has increased in recent times for the creation of PVC cables and flooring.
These also find their use in cutting oil and are generally used as extreme pressure additives. The chlorinated paraffin is compatible with oils and can emancipate hydrochloric acid available at a high temperature. They serve the purpose of secondary plasticizers in the formation of several PVC products. The chlorinated paraffin is mainly classified on the basis of carbon chain length. However, a further division can also be made on the basis of chlorination content within them.
Reasons for Increased Use of Chlorinated Paraffin in PVC Flooring
- Resistance to Flame
It is no doubt that chlorinated paraffin is being used in a large number of applications. One of the major reasons behind it is its resistance to flame. It provides a flame-retardant and cost-effective solution to the industries. It releases hydrochloric acid when subjected to high temperatures. This HCl helps in the formation of char when present in a condensed state and acts as a flame poison in its vapour state. The flame-retardant property, however, comes from decomposed chlorinated paraffin that forms a char-like residue.
Due to these features, this compound finds its use in plenty of industries like fabrics, plastic, and rubber.
- Stain Resistance
PVC flooring is meant to enhance the aesthetics of your place. Therefore, the first that you would look for in the material used for flooring is its resistance to stains so that it remains low maintenance and maintains the look. Chlorinated paraffin has stain resistance property and hence is incorporated in PVC flooring. However, its usage does not limit to just flooring but extends to upholstery and wall coverings as well.
- Resistant to Various Chemicals
Not just PVC flooring, the chlorinated paraffin is even included in sealants, coatings, and paints. These exhibit another very interesting property, that is, resistance to chemicals and water. This is advantageous for people looking for PVC flooring because this feature makes the tiles strong and perfect for your home or workplace. The floor will not be easily damaged even if a chemical gets spilled by mistake.
- Low-Temperature Flexibility
As compared to conventional plasticizers, chlorinated paraffin works more efficiently at low temperatures. This makes up for another feature called low-temperature flexibility. This property of chlorinated paraffin facilitates its addition to products that need high flexibility in cold weather conditions. This automatically includes PVC flooring, garden hose application, and even cable insulation. When talking about the range of plastics, it is added to PVC to enhance its elasticity.
- Aqueous Detergent Extraction Resistant
There are several manufacturers that use water-based detergents for cleaning the metal parts. It increases the risk of eliminating plasticizers along with grease and oil. This leads to an ineffective formulation. The solution to this problem is provided by chlorinated paraffin. They have the tendency to form a bond with the metal surface which ultimately leads to the formation of a thin and solid layer of lubricant. HCl released on the subjugation of chlorinated paraffin to high temperature leads to the formation of this bond.
The demand for chlorinated paraffin has increased due to its beneficial features and low cost. It has secured a place as a key element in several metal cutting operations. The increased demand for PVC products has aided in chlorinated paraffin’s increased usage too. The premium features exhibited make it a perfect solution for many commercial sectors.