Chlorinated paraffins

Epoxidized vegetable oil, glycidyl ether or organophosphorous compounds may be added to the final product for improved stability at high temperatures.

[12] Currently, over 200 CP formulations are in use for a wide range of industrial applications, such as flame retardants and plasticisers, as additives in metal working fluids, in sealants, paints, adhesives, textiles, leather fat and coatings.

[13][1] Short-chain CPs are classified as persistent and their physical properties (octanol-water partition coefficient (logKOW) 4.4–8, depending on the chlorination degree) imply a high potential for bioaccumulation.

Therefore, it was concluded that SCCPs have PBT and vPvB properties and they were added to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern for Authorisation under REACH Regulation.

[14] SCCPs (average chain length of C12, chlorination degree 60 wt%) were categorised in group 2B as possibly carcinogenic to humans from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Structure of 2,3,4,5,6,8-hexachlorodecane, an example of a short-chained chlorinated paraffin (61% Cl by weight)
Structure of 2,5,6,7,8,11,15-heptachloroheptadecane, an example of a medium-chain chlorinated paraffin (52% Cl by weight)