Hexachloroethane C₂Cl₆ · CAS 67-72-1
The traditional degassing agent for molten aluminum — and a chemical the United States has largely moved away from. It still works: almost 90% chlorine by weight, and the gas it releases in the melt strips out the dissolved hydrogen that would otherwise leave porosity in the casting. What changed is everything around it. We supply it, and we will tell you plainly what comes with it before you order rather than after.
Chelora Chemicals is a hexachloroethane supplier and sourcing partner serving foundry and industrial buyers across the United States. Every consignment carries a batch COA and SDS, and the regulatory position — carcinogen classification, hazardous air pollutant listing, waste obligations and the import route — is set out in writing before anything is booked.
- CAS Number
- 67-72-1
- Chemical name
- Hexachloroethane
- Molecular formula
- C₂Cl₆
- Molecular weight
- 236.74 g/mol
- Chlorine content
- 89.8%
- Appearance
- Colorless rhombic crystals
- US regulatory status
- EPA Group C · CAA hazardous air pollutant
- Water solubility
- Insoluble
- HS Code
- 2903 19
Note: read the regulatory line before the specification. Hexachloroethane is an EPA Group C possible human carcinogen, sits on the Clean Air Act section 112(b) hazardous air pollutant list, and is an EPA hazardous waste when discarded. It has also not been produced commercially in the US since 1967, so supply here is imported. That does not make it unavailable — it makes it deliberate.
Why foundries used it, and what replaced it
Hydrogen dissolved in molten aluminum causes porosity on solidification. Hexachloroethane was the convenient way to remove it.
Why it matters: before 1979, 30 to 40% of all hexachloroethane distributed in the US went into degassing pellets — the use has shrunk a long way since, and for reasons worth understanding
What hexachloroethane is and does
Hexachloroethane is colorless rhombic crystals, C₂Cl₆, with a camphor-like odor detectable at about 0.15 ppm. It is insoluble in water, has a low vapor pressure of 0.21 mm Hg at 20 °C, and is almost 90% chlorine by weight — which is where its metallurgical function comes from.
In an aluminum melt it decomposes and releases chlorine-bearing gas in situ. The bubbles rise through the melt and strip dissolved hydrogen, which would otherwise come out of solution on solidification and leave porosity in the casting. Before 1979, 30 to 40% of all hexachloroethane distributed in the US went into degassing pellets. Its other long-standing use is in pyrotechnic and military smoke compositions, which EPA puts at around half of US consumption; it also appears as a polymer additive and in metal and alloy production.
Before you specify it, know this
- EPA Group C — possible human carcinogen. Based on liver tumors in mice and kidney tumors in male rats.
- Clean Air Act hazardous air pollutant. Listed under section 112(b); your air permitting team needs to know.
- Not produced commercially in the US since 1967. Any supply here is imported.
- Modern alternatives exist. Inert gas rotary degassing and nitrogen-releasing tablets do the same job.
Handling character
Hexachloroethane is a possible human carcinogen, a listed hazardous air pollutant and an EPA hazardous waste. Read the Safety section before ordering.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colorless to white crystalline solid |
| Assay | Per agreed specification |
| Moisture | Per grade specification |
| Residue on ignition | Per agreed specification |
| Particle size / tablet form | Per agreed specification |
| Free chloride | Per agreed specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colorless rhombic crystals |
| Molecular weight | 236.74 g/mol |
| Chlorine content | 89.8% |
| Water solubility | Insoluble |
| Vapor pressure | 0.21 mm Hg at 20 °C |
| Odor | Camphor-like; threshold 0.15 ppm |
| Log Kow | 4.04 |
Physical constants compiled from EPA and ATSDR reference data for CAS 67-72-1 and rounded for readability. Hexachloroethane sublimes rather than melting cleanly at atmospheric pressure. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where hexachloroethane is still used
Aluminum degassing, pyrotechnics, and chlorinated chemical applications.
Aluminum degassing
The traditional application. Chlorine evolved in the melt strips dissolved hydrogen, preventing porosity in the casting.
- Tablet or crystal form
- Largely superseded by inert gas
- Air permitting is your obligation
Operator exposure control
A possible carcinogen and a listed hazardous air pollutant. Fume extraction and exposure monitoring are not optional on this product.
- SDS supplied with every batch
- Exposure controls are the user’s duty
- We will discuss alternatives
Alternatives we would rather discuss
Inert gas rotary degassing with argon or nitrogen, and nitrogen-releasing tablet grades, do the same job without the HAP listing.
- Honest comparison on request
- No obligation to buy HCE from us
- Technical desk review
Chemical & polymer uses
Used as a polymer additive for flameproofing and dye affinity, and in metal and alloy production.
- Assay to specification
- Documented traceability
- Small and bulk quantities
Pyrotechnic compositions
EPA puts roughly half of US consumption into military smoke-producing devices and pyrotechnics.
- Supplied to qualified buyers only
- End use confirmed before quoting
- Full documentation
Import & compliance coordination
Not produced commercially in the US since 1967, so supply is imported. We confirm the import and waste position before booking.
- End use confirmed before quoting
- Import documentation prepared
- Broker coordination on request
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship hexachloroethane to nominated delivery points across the United States. The regions below are destinations we serve — Chelora Chemicals is a sourcing and supply partner, not a US manufacturer, and does not hold US stock.
Gulf Coast
The largest US chemical cluster, and the usual entry point for bulk consignments.
- Houston & Galveston, TX
- New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA
- Mobile, AL
Northeast
Container and bulk delivery into the mid-Atlantic and New England manufacturing belt.
- Newark & Elizabeth, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
Southeast
Port-side delivery for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida processing plants.
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Jacksonville, FL & Norfolk, VA
Midwest & Great Lakes
Inland rail and truck forwarding from the nearest coastal port to the industrial Midwest.
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland & Columbus, OH
West Coast
Pacific routing for West Coast processors and formulators.
- Los Angeles & Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle & Tacoma, WA
Southwest & Mountain
Inland delivery to interior states, forwarded from the Gulf or Pacific gateway.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
Importing into the United States
Hexachloroethane is a TSCA-regulated chemical substance. Under TSCA section 13 the importer of record, or its authorized agent, must certify to US Customs and Border Protection that each shipment either complies with TSCA or is not subject to it. We confirm the substance's TSCA Inventory status and agree in writing who files that certification before the first consignment moves.
Which party carries that duty follows the Incoterm. On FOB, CFR or CIF terms it is usually the US buyer; on DDP terms it can be the seller or its agent. Safety data sheets and labels are supplied to OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard, and the environmentally regulated transport documentation is prepared before booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery points | Any nominated US plant, terminal or port of discharge |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB · CFR · CIF · DDP |
| Importer of record | Agreed in writing before the first shipment |
| TSCA certification | Section 13 positive certification filed at entry |
| Documentation | Batch COA, SDS, packing list, certificate of origin |
| Pack formats | 25 kg drums or tablet packs |
Note: regional coverage describes where we deliver, not where we hold inventory. Lead time depends on producer scheduling and ocean transit to your nominated US port — we confirm both in the quotation.
How we supply hexachloroethane
Chelora Chemicals is a hexachloroethane supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On this product the service worth having is not price — it is being told, before you order, exactly what regulatory weight comes with it.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer fits your specification and your delivery window, and we set out the import, air-permitting and waste position in writing before booking.
We will also ask what you are trying to achieve. If the answer is degassing aluminum, there are modern routes that do not carry a HAP listing, and we would rather point you at them and lose the order than sell you a compliance problem.
- Regulatory position stated before the quote, not after. EPA Group C possible carcinogen, Clean Air Act section 112(b) hazardous air pollutant, EPA hazardous waste when discarded.
- We will raise the alternatives unprompted. Inert gas rotary degassing and nitrogen-releasing tablets do the same job; if one of those fits, we will say so.
- Import route confirmed. Hexachloroethane has not been produced for commercial distribution in the US since 1967, so every kilogram here is imported.
- Waste disposal discussed up front. Residues and contaminated material are EPA hazardous waste, and that obligation sits with you, not with us.
- End use confirmed before quoting. This is not a product we ship on an unexamined purchase order.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
Drummed or in tablet packs
25 kg drums, sealed tablet packs or smaller units — all with full documentation.
25 kg lined drums
Sealed lined drums, the standard unit for crystal or granular material.
Sealed tablet cartons
Pressed tablets in sealed cartons where the foundry doses by tablet.
25 kg poly-lined bags
Moisture-barrier bags where drum handling is not wanted.
500–1,000 kg bulk bags
Bulk bags for high-volume operations, subject to the handling review.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for trial before a commercial order, to qualified buyers.
A possible carcinogen and a listed air pollutant
This is the section that matters most on this product. Hexachloroethane is an EPA Group C possible human carcinogen, appears on the Clean Air Act section 112(b) list of hazardous air pollutants, and is an EPA hazardous waste when discarded. Acutely it acts as a central nervous system depressant and irritates skin, mucous membranes and the liver. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your batch is the authoritative document, and your own industrial hygiene and air permitting programs govern its use.
Classified hazards
H351Suspected of causing cancer.H302Harmful if swallowed.H315Causes skin irritation.H319Causes serious eye irritation.H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
What the US regulatory record actually says. EPA classifies hexachloroethane as Group C, a possible human carcinogen, on the basis of hepatocellular carcinomas in orally dosed mice and renal neoplasms in male rats; the oral reference dose is 0.001 mg/kg/day, set on renal tubule atrophy and degeneration in rats. It is listed as a hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act section 112(b), and EPA classifies it and wastes containing it as hazardous waste, with generators subject to treatment, storage and disposal rules. It has not been produced for commercial distribution in the United States since 1967. We supply it where a buyer has a legitimate need and the controls to match — and we will raise the alternatives first.
Storage
Store in sealed, labeled packaging in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from food and feedstuffs, and away from strong oxidizers and bases. Keep containers closed: the material sublimes, so vapor accumulates in a closed space even at ambient temperature, and the camphor-like odor at 0.15 ppm is not a reliable exposure warning. Segregate from incompatibles and bund the area.
Handling
Handle with local exhaust ventilation, impervious gloves and eye protection, and with respiratory protection where airborne concentrations are possible. Avoid all skin contact and inhalation of dust or vapor. Because this is a possible carcinogen and a listed hazardous air pollutant, exposure monitoring and a written control plan are appropriate rather than optional. Residues and contaminated material are hazardous waste. Follow the controls set out in the batch SDS and your own occupational-health program.
Transport
Hexachloroethane has no substance-specific UN number under the model regulations. Whether a given shipment travels as UN 3077, Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s., Class 9 depends on the producer’s classification of the material and on the destination’s rules. We confirm and document the position for your specific grade, packaging and destination before booking rather than assuming it.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
End use and controls confirmed
We ask what the material is for and what exposure controls you have before quoting. This is not a product we ship on an unexamined order.
Regulatory position set out in writing
Carcinogen classification, hazardous air pollutant listing, waste obligations and import route, all stated before you commit.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documented dispatch
COA, SDS and transport documentation checked by our desk, with full chain of custody traceable to the producing batch.
Why the degassing use declined
Molten aluminum dissolves hydrogen readily, and far less of it stays in solution once the metal solidifies. The difference comes out as porosity — the defect that degassing exists to prevent. Dropping a hexachloroethane tablet into the melt generates chlorine-bearing gas in situ, and the rising bubbles strip hydrogen out as they go. It was simple, cheap and effective, which is why 30 to 40% of US hexachloroethane went into degassing pellets before 1979.
What changed was not the metallurgy but everything around it. The reaction produces chlorinated fume at the melt surface, and hexachloroethane carries a Group C carcinogen classification and a place on the Clean Air Act hazardous air pollutant list. Meanwhile inert gas rotary degassing — argon or nitrogen injected through a spinning rotor — matured into a process that removes hydrogen at least as well with no chlorinated emission at all, and nitrogen-releasing tablet grades appeared for operations too small to justify a rotor.
That is the honest position on this product. It still works, it is still traded, and there are applications where a buyer has good reason to want it. But a foundry choosing a degassing route in the United States today is choosing between a listed hazardous air pollutant and two alternatives that are not, and we would rather have that conversation before the order than after.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Perchlorinated ethane |
|---|---|
| Chlorine content | 89.8% by weight |
| Traditional use | Aluminum melt degassing |
| US cancer classification | EPA Group C — possible human carcinogen |
| Air status | Clean Air Act section 112(b) HAP |
| Modern alternatives | Inert gas rotary degassing; N₂ tablets |
Related metallurgical & chlorinated products
Foundry inputs and chlorinated intermediates supplied from the same desk.
Hexachloroethane, answered
What is hexachloroethane used for?
Is hexachloroethane a carcinogen?
Is it still legal to use in the United States?
What are the alternatives for aluminum degassing?
Why did the degassing use decline?
What exposure controls are needed?
How should it be stored?
Is it dangerous goods to ship?
Will you supply it to anyone?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on hexachloroethane
Tell us what the material is for and what exposure controls you have in place. If the application is aluminum degassing we will also quote you the alternatives, because on this product you should be choosing with the full picture rather than on price.