Looking back, Chlorinated Paraffin-70 didn’t arrive overnight. Its roots tie back to the mid-20th century, right when the chemical industry took big leaps to create synthetic additives that could stand up to higher demands in flame retardancy and plastic flexibility. Factories started with paraffin wax, which was cheap and easy to get, then added chlorine — a process that seemed simple but changed a lot about how the material behaved. Old patents from the 1970s and 80s read like a chemistry class, with researchers experimenting to strike the right chlorine content. Chlorinated compounds started popping up in plastics, paints, lubricants, and wires, helping manufacturers switch from more expensive or toxic substances. CP-70 carved a niche because of its high chlorine content, offering good protection and flexibility, though not without raising some eyebrows.
Chlorinated Paraffin-70 is a yellow, thick syrup or sometimes even a semi-solid chunk, depending on the exact way companies set up their tanks. Folks in the industry often just call it CP-70, but every label also carries a warning or two. Anyone who’s worked in a warehouse or a formulation lab remembers its sticky feel and the way it lingers on gloves. It carries a medal for being flame-resistant and able to hold up well against heat and oil; you see why cable factories and paint shops keep a drum or two around. Its price point also keeps smaller suppliers competitive.
CP-70 leans toward the heavy side with a density near 1.6 g/cm³. A chlorine content of around 70% by weight cranks up both flame resistance and viscosity. This stuff doesn’t dissolve in water, but it loves oils and organic solvents such as benzene and toluene. I remember one mishap in a plant where a spilled drum stuck to the floor for weeks, and even a full mop didn’t make much of a dent. Once it breaks down (usually under strong heat), CP-70 releases hydrochloric acid and other by-products, which always keeps folks cautious about overheating engines or processing equipment.
No one slaps CP-70 on the market without the data to back it up. Manufacturers label every container with CAS numbers (63449-39-8 most often), chlorine percentage, acid value, and any stabilizer present. In actual use, technical datasheets sort out the basic info: density, viscosity at set temperatures, flash point (usually hovers over 180°C), and electrical insulation ratings. Some might eye-bleed over these details, but I’ve sat through enough customer meetings where one missing value can wreck a purchase order. The label also covers compatibility with plasticizers, lubricants, or resins in the blend, so no surprises show up in the finished product.
Factories whip up CP-70 by bubbling chlorine gas through hot liquid paraffin. This isn’t just tossing chemicals in a bucket; temperature, chlorine flow rate, and agitation need tight control — slip up and you get either a low-grade mess or a product that doesn’t gel with customer recipes. Most plants set up reaction towers for this, tracking reaction progress by testing acid release and weight gain from chlorine. After the main batch, purification steps get rid of leftover gas, unreacted paraffin, and acidic residues, leaving behind that signature yellow stuff. I’ve seen older plants using glass-lined reactors, but most newer operations stick with steel lined with corrosion-resistant coatings.
Once in hand, CP-70 doesn’t just sit pretty. Formulators often tweak it. Blending with epoxidized oils can open up flexibility or lower viscosity for special coatings. Sometimes, it goes through chemical modification to reduce acid content, and that makes it play nicer in sensitive plastics. The high chlorine means it works as a source for introducing chlorine atoms in further organic synthesis, but most often it stays as an additive or intermediary. Heat breaks it down, releasing hydrochloric acid and sometimes carbon tetrachloride, so every application has to respect these boundaries to steer around equipment corrosion and nasty gaseous releases.
Over the years, Chlorinated Paraffin-70 picked up a bagful of names, depending on the manufacturer or country. You might see “CP-70”, “Paroil-70”, “Chlorowax 70”, or even “Chlorkol 70” listed on a product quote. Folks sometimes get confused by these, especially when import restrictions or custom codes come into play. Underneath all the branding, they all circle back to the same core chemistry — a chlorinated straight-chain alkane with 70% by weight chlorine.
Workplaces using CP-70 draw a hard line on ventilation. Inhalation of dust or vapor, especially during spills or handling of hot material, can sting eyes and lungs. Factory floors gear up with gloves, goggles, and sometimes full-face respirators. Anyone who’s clocked time at a mixing station knows to watch for the smell of chlorine or the faint bite in the air. Local and international safety frameworks like OSHA, REACH, and GHS lay out the right routines, from storage specs to fire precautions. Unlike lighter paraffin blends, the higher chlorine means firefighting foam or powder gets first call, not water. Disposal of wastes moves slowly, with special approval for landfill or high-temperature incineration. Employees get trained to spot leaks or off-gassing right away to avoid a full shutdown.
CP-70 works in a surprising number of industries. Cable and wire makers use it as a flame retardant. Flexible PVC and rubber benefit from its ability to mix and repel oil, which is rare among additives. Factories making conveyor belts or leather treatments count on its persistence under heat and wear. Paints and sealants turn to it for water resistance and added durability. Lubricant blenders also slip it into cutting oils for metalworking, thanks to its knack for preventing tool wear and seizing — but the dark side comes when you try to recycle or retire machinery; the residuals often push compliant disposal costs higher. Over the years, I’ve seen some firms quietly phase out CP-70 because regulations tighten up, but for heavy-duty and cost-sensitive jobs, it hangs on.
Research on CP-70 mainly goes two ways: finding replacements and cleaning up ways to make it safer. Labs tinker with bio-based flame retardants and tailor blends with lower chlorine loads that give similar punch. In the last decade, studies tested whether additives can trap or neutralize HCl off-gassing during processing. Meanwhile, manufacturers look for ways to cut dioxin formation during both production and at the end-of-life incineration. It’s a tug-of-war between cost, performance, and cleaner operations. Some companies now push alternative plasticizers and non-halogenated flame retardants, but scaling up to the same low price and rock-solid quality of CP-70 still gives headaches.
Toxicologists pay close attention to Chlorinated Paraffins, especially those with higher chlorine like CP-70. Animal testing showed liver and kidney damage with chronic exposure, and some forms build up in fish and wildlife. The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists some grades as possibly carcinogenic, sparking debate among suppliers and regulators. Wastewater and soil around production sites often end up with residues, sometimes flagged under persistent organic pollutants. Europe and parts of North America now slap down strict limits on CP use, especially where bioaccumulation risks run high. On the ground, this means regular testing of effluents, big investments in capture and destruction of side products, plus tighter worker exposure rules. Old-timers in the business remember a time when environmental checks barely existed, but now fully automated scrubbers and monitors run around the clock.
Pressure will keep mounting. Customers crave safer, greener additives — so CP-70 has to either get cleaner or risk getting pushed aside. Some players double down on closed-loop processing, reclaiming and recycling every scrap, testing new stabilizers to curb breakdown. Regulators look over every new toxicology report, ready to tighten the standards again. Labs keep chasing that sweet spot: same performance, lighter toxicity footprint, and easier end-of-life cleanup. Whether CP-70 holds its ground or fades out depends on whether innovators catch up with growing demands for safety and responsibility, while still keeping budgets from exploding.
Chlorinated Paraffin-70—most folks outside the chemical industry might not give it much thought, but it’s a key player inside plenty of products. In the world of plastics and rubbers, it’s used because its high chlorine content boosts flame resistance. Manufacturers aren’t looking for fires breaking out in cables or conveyor belts, so they turn to this additive to help materials handle the heat. Cables under the floor or behind drywall need to stay safe if heated wires ever spark or short. With CP-70 worked into the mix, the finished product stands up better.
Factories also reach for this substance in the making of PVC pipes, floorings, or sheeting. I remember installing PVC pipes years ago and hearing an engineer talk about the additives that go into them—not just for flexibility, but to keep homes and workplaces safer. Certain grades of chlorinated paraffin, like CP-70, offer a real edge for ensuring equipment and pipes last longer under stressful conditions.
Industrial lubricants have a tough job: keeping machines, gears, and engines running smoothly when temperatures and pressures climb. CP-70 packs enough chlorine to help these oils and greases handle tough jobs, especially in metalworking. By adding this chemical to cutting fluids, manufacturers give tools and metal surfaces a coating that cuts down on friction. That means longer tool life and cleaner cuts.
It’s not something that gets a lot of consumer spotlight, but in industries where every second of downtime is costly, a better lubricant can save real money. Chlorinated Paraffin-70 brings value here, making sure metal fabrication—think auto parts and household appliances—runs more reliably.
The flip side to all these benefits: there’s plenty of debate about long-term safety. Chlorinated paraffins don’t break down in the environment the way some wish they did. Regulators and scientists have raised alarms after finding traces in water and animal tissue. My own concerns have grown after reading research about these chemicals sticking around in rivers long after factories shut their doors.
Workers in plants using CP-70 also face exposure risks. Studies have linked prolonged contact to health issues, especially if protection isn’t up to snuff. Some countries have started putting stricter rules on how these chemicals are used and disposed of, but patchwork oversight leaves room for trouble.
There’s no quick fix, not with the range of industries relying on chlorinated paraffin-70. Yet, companies can lean into research for safer alternatives—possibly plant-based plasticizers or additives that won’t build up in the food chain. Factories and plants can keep updating their gear to limit leaks and spills, use better personal protection, and tighten up waste management.
Pressure from both consumers and governments can push this shift. Demand for cleaner, safer chemistry keeps rising. Each department—whether in plastics, lubricants, or fire-resistant coatings—has a chance to reconsider if they want to stick with the status quo or explore replacements. It’s tough to swap out something that works so well, but in the end, long-term health and cleaner waterways matter too much to ignore.
Chlorinated Paraffin-70 (CP-70) stands out as quite a workhorse in the chemical world. Its name hints at its makeup: it’s a material with a high level of chlorination, about 70 percent by weight. That high chlorine content tells a story about its properties—especially its resistance to flames and chemical reactions. If you’ve ever wondered why certain flexible PVC products stubbornly refuse to bend under heat or flame, odds are good CP-70 plays a part.
CP-70’s usefulness boils down to that high chlorine number. At this level, the stuff becomes almost wax-like, which means you won’t find it flowing or melting easily at room temperature. I’ve handled samples that looked and felt more like soft wax blocks than liquids or powders. The chemical structure here gives it a high level of stability, so it doesn’t break down fast, even when exposed to chemicals or heat. That’s valuable for folks making things like cable sheathing and conveyor belts for tough environments.
Whenever fire-safety standards tighten, manufacturers scramble to find ingredients that can slow flame spread. CP-70 delivers on this front. The chlorine in it releases hydrogen chloride gas when heated up enough—sounds unpleasant, but that gas actually snuffs out flames. This single feature makes a real difference, especially in areas where fires can spread through plastics in seconds. Electrical cable coatings, roofing materials, and insulation products all benefit from the flame resistance this additive can provide. It’s not uncommon to see it listed right beside the plasticizers and stabilizers on the ingredient sheets.
I’ve seen CP-70 added to materials to boost their resistance to water, oil, and even some corrosive chemicals. In factories where coolants and cutting fluids splash around, this property keeps machine belts and hoses from breaking down. That quality buys time and reduces repairs, which keeps operations humming. It’s not understated to say that industries ranging from automotive to construction lean on CP-70 for its ability to add years to a product’s shelf life.
Working with CP-70 isn’t as simple as tossing it in a mix. Its waxy texture means that handling, mixing, and dispersing it takes a bit more muscle and technical know-how. Getting it to blend evenly, especially in flexible polymers, sometimes demands heat and the right kind of compatibilizer. I’ve seen production hiccups where uneven mixing leads to poor product performance. So, for anyone considering CP-70 as an ingredient, investing in the right equipment isn’t a nice extra—it’s a must.
No conversation about CP-70 feels right without talking about the footprint it leaves. The longevity that makes it a great industrial additive comes with a hitch: it sticks around in the environment. Researchers have linked highly chlorinated paraffins to concerns over persistence and possible toxicity in aquatic life. Regulatory agencies in Europe, the U.S., and Asia zero in on its use and disposal. Some manufacturers look for alternatives or blend CP-70 in ways that limit these risks, but the balancing act between performance and environmental impact is ongoing.
The need for durable, fire-resistant, and tough industrial materials won’t shrink anytime soon. CP-70 keeps finding its way into new products thanks to its resilience and protective powers. At the same time, the industry faces growing pressure to rethink how chemicals fit into the broader picture of sustainability. One possible path forward includes investing more in research for safer replacements. Engineers and chemists keep tinkering with formulas to get the same strength and fire resistance using less persistent compounds, or by making CP-70 easier to reclaim or break down. The job doesn’t end with finding the best performing product—the pursuit of safer, more responsible chemistry keeps the conversation going.
I’ve stood in plants where the air lingers heavy, walked factory floors where chemical drums show a quiet warning. Chlorinated Paraffin-70 crops up mostly in lubrication, paints, plasticizers—a dense, waxy substance with high chlorine content. Companies rely on it to add flame-retardant properties, or to make rubber and plastics flexible. It’s a workhorse for industrial applications, but that doesn’t mean it comes without sharp edges.
Gloves, goggles, face masks: these gear choices aren’t just box-checking exercises. Chlorinated Paraffin-70 irritates skin and eyes. A spill or a careless touch leads to a swift lesson—burning sensations and rashes don’t wait for page three of the material data sheet. Breathing in dust or fumes from this substance, especially if heating gets involved, brings its own set of problems. Some lab studies point toward damage to liver and kidneys in animals. No regular worker wants to gamble on cancer risks, even if arguments rage over degree and certainty.
Most of the people I meet want clean water and honest air. This chemical doesn’t just vanish after use. Washing out vats, spilling powder, tossing waste down the drain—those choices spark a chain reaction. Chlorinated Paraffins build up in aquatic life, working their way through the food web. They don’t break down quickly, so rivers and fish keep the story going for years. Watching children catching fish near factories makes the problem impossible to ignore—bioaccumulation takes these worries out of academic journals and into family meals.
Training sessions about proper handling feel slow in the moment, but not knowing often means trouble later. In smaller shops and busy lines, shortcuts appear—no ventilation, reusing gloves, skipping the safety talk. It’s a stretch to imagine reforms landing overnight, but the conversations start with the basics: chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof goggles, solid ventilation. Everyone wants to earn a living, but not at the price of chronic coughs, raw hands, or a cancer scare.
Change often comes from push and pull. Some countries tighten regulations on chlorinated paraffins, even banning the most dangerous short-chain versions. Others lag because shifting to safer alternatives costs money and time. For the business side, switching to lower-chlorine substances or less toxic plasticizers could trim the hazard. It helps when buyers demand cleaner, greener processes—pressure from consumers turns boardroom heads. On a plant floor, hearing management talk honestly about risks (instead of brushing aside concerns) sets a new tone for safety culture.
Upgrading local exhaust systems makes a difference. Down the line, training workers to spot and report leaks, and using spill kits instead of rags, cuts exposure. Placing safety data sheets in clear sight—not hidden in filing cabinets—keeps lessons fresh. Regulators could set real teeth behind rules with random spot checks and meaningful penalties for repeat offenses. Engineers, for their part, can look for alternative materials, aiming for performance without the baggage of bioaccumulation or carcinogenicity.
Every link in the supply chain shares responsibility. Cutting corners may look like short-term savings, but the true cost arrives through insurance claims, community health, or lost trust. It’s possible to handle dangerous chemicals with real care. It demands ownership, from the boardroom to the loading dock, to keep those working with Chlorinated Paraffin-70 safe—not out of formal obligation, but out of respect for people and the places they call home.
Chlorinated Paraffin-70 might sound like a mouthful, but for a lot of people who work with tough, greasy machinery or build rubber hoses, it’s a familiar name. This waxy chemical gets loaded into products where basic oils just surrender to heat or chemicals. Workers who spend their days near industrial mixers, rolling mills, and cutting machines—even those who patch up shipping containers—often use items treated with this compound, whether they know it or not.
Metalworking shops can get ugly. Sparks, friction, and pressure are just the beginning. Cutting and shaping metal parts chews up regular oils; nothing feels “slippery” for long under the stress. Chlorinated Paraffin-70 goes further. For those shaping gears, car parts, or train rails, this ingredient improves how fluids handle heat and prevents tools from burning out in record time. I remember talking to an old machinist who swore by specialty cutting fluids made with this additive—he’d go through barrels of it just to keep machines running smoothly. Without this stuff, workers find themselves replacing saw blades twice as fast.
Car tires, conveyor belts, shoe soles—just about anything flexible or tough in your daily life involves complicated plastic or rubber mixes behind the scenes. Chlorinated Paraffin-70 stands out for making these products less flammable and more resistant to oily spills or electrical sparks. If you’ve ever worked in a factory watching sheets of plastic go through rollers, you’d see the difference once additives get mixed in. Older recipes would crack or catch fire easier; the new batches come out bolder and last longer.
Cable manufacturers use this compound, too. Power cables in a city’s underground maze deal with all sorts of stresses and, frankly, some pretty nasty environmental hazards. The insulation around these cables should withstand heat, chemicals, and rubbing against rocks or metal day after day. Chlorinated Paraffin-70 gives those cables a better shot at lasting more than a season without splitting or melting.
Chlorinated Paraffin-70 helps paints stick harder, resist stains, and protect against water—qualities that show up in coatings for boats, bridges, or even factory floors. It seeps into the formulas used in adhesives and industrial sealants, especially those spread on concrete or steel. A building contractor told me he picked products containing this ingredient for sealing warehouse floors because forklifts wouldn’t leave black scuff marks so easily.
Nobody working in these industries likes the idea of pollution. Chlorinated Paraffin-70’s strength is also a stubborn problem once it escapes into soil or water. Scientists have found traces around factories and waste sites that don’t break down for decades. Health researchers worry about what happens as these chemicals build up in fish and food chains.
People in these industries are catching on. Some companies have started searching for new chemical blends that cut down risks for workers and neighbors. Making the switch isn’t easy or cheap. Still, if factories, manufacturers, and the government keep the pressure on, safer solutions will land on shop floors before too long—for the sake of both the folks who make the products and the communities living nearby.
Chlorinated Paraffin-70 sits in a tricky spot for anyone dealing with specialty chemicals. The substance finds its way into paints, adhesives, and flame retardants. It’s got those tough bonds and high chlorine numbers, but that toughness carries some real risks. I spent some time early in my career huddled with a logistics team trying to sort out damage after a minor spill from a ruptured drum—let's just say lessons get burned into your memory once you see corroded warehouse shelving.
Steel drums, thick HDPE containers and IBC totes all see use for this material. Seals need to lock in tight, with gaskets that don’t degrade. Leaky containers turn small drips into real hazards. Even the best drums suffer if left in the sun. Chlorinated Paraffin-70 loves to creep under UV and heat, degrading and turning into a thicker, stickier mess. That puts extra stress on every weld and seam.
It’s not enough to “store in a cool, dry place”—think about what temperature spikes do in a normal warehouse come July. Even if outdoor storage sometimes seems tempting for overflow, a climate-controlled zone keeps everybody’s peace of mind intact. Anything above 30°C stirs up decomposition. Airflow is crucial; stacking containers without room between them bakes product in the middle row. Some of the best operators make it a policy to use raised platforms or spill pallets, so nothing pools underneath.
I’ve seen more than one logistics nightmare come from missing labels or ambiguous paperwork. Proper signage—clear hazard markings, batch numbers that trace back to the fill date—sets everyone up for easier tracking and fewer mix-ups.
A good friend once said, “If you don’t write it down, it didn’t happen.” That holds doubly true for chemical goods. The extra minute spent updating your manifest cuts down on headaches with compliance, and it makes disaster response a lot smoother if something goes sideways.
Shipping this stuff is not like moving flour or sand. Drivers and handlers need to know what’s on board. Routes should avoid rough country roads that bounce containers loose. In my experience, the best carriers double-check restraint straps and avoid stacking anything heavy on top of these drums—one shifted load and you start leaking.
Ventilation keeps vapor levels manageable in trucks, especially if there’s a hold-up on the road. Those vapors pose health risks, and they also attack soft plastics nearby. Trucks that haul chemicals get a thorough cleanout between loads to knock back any lingering residue.
It’s easy to focus on the chemical properties, but nobody wants burned skin or ruined boots. Workers need gloves that resist chlorinated hydrocarbons, splash goggles, and decent ventilation near open drums or during decanting. Showers and eye-wash stations aren’t just for show—useful the moment things go wrong.
Long-term, a few ideas keep popping into my head after years around storage sites. Secondary containment makes a difference—a leak never stays small on bare concrete. Sensors for temperature or leaks could help staff catch problems before they spread. If your operation handles enough of this material, a regular review with the local fire marshal and environmental officer stays wise.
Chlorinated Paraffin-70 brings value, no doubt, but treating storage and transport as an afterthought courts trouble. Every spill avoided, every drum kept intact, just means a safer and more reliable operation—for your team and your neighbors, too.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Polychloroalkane |
| Other names |
Chlorinated Paraffin 70 CP-70 Paraffin Chloride 70 Chlorinated Alkane 70% |
| Pronunciation | /ˈklɔːrɪneɪtɪd ˌpærəˈfɪn ˈsɛv(ə)nti/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 63449-39-8 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `JSmol.loadInline("data/model/PARAP70.mol")` |
| Beilstein Reference | 1718731 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:134884 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL4280471 |
| ChemSpider | 23869580 |
| DrugBank | DB11175 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.030.247 |
| EC Number | 287-476-5 |
| Gmelin Reference | 84064 |
| KEGG | C19582 |
| MeSH | Chlorinated Paraffins |
| PubChem CID | 11318624 |
| RTECS number | GL4025000 |
| UNII | 4MT1V5T4PQ |
| UN number | UN2580 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C23H44Cl16 |
| Molar mass | 650.0 g/mol |
| Appearance | White or pale yellow powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.34 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble in water |
| log P | 4.69 |
| Vapor pressure | Negligible |
| Basicity (pKb) | Strong Base (pKb > 4) |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | Diamagnetic |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.540 – 1.545 |
| Viscosity | Viscous Liquid |
| Dipole moment | 4.8 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 0.570 kJ·K⁻¹·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -130.2 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -12300 kJ/kg |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | X89AG20 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Causes skin and eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation. Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
| GHS labelling | GHS05, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS05,GHS07,GHS09 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H315, H319, H335 |
| Precautionary statements | P260, P264, P273, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P314, P321, P405, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-2-0 |
| Flash point | > 210°C |
| Autoignition temperature | > 356°C (673°F) |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): > 10,000 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): >2000 mg/kg (Rat, oral) |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL: 15 mg/m³ |
| REL (Recommended) | 10 mg/m3 |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Chlorinated Paraffin-42 Chlorinated Paraffin-52 Chlorinated Paraffin-60 Chlorinated Paraffin-72 Chlorinated Paraffin-45 Chlorinated Paraffin-55 |
