What Are CPs?

Chlorinated Paraffins (CPs) are straight-chain hydrocarbons that have been chlorinated. Chlorinated paraffins are classified according to their carbon-chain length and percentage of chlorination, with carbon-chain lengths generally ranging from C₁₀ to C₃₀ and chlorination from approximately 35% to greater than 70% by weight. Chlorinated paraffins are made by chlorinating paraffin fractions obtained from petroleum distillation. The three most common commercial feedstocks used are paraffins with carbon number ranges of: Short-chain (C_10-13), Intermediate-chain (C_14-17) and
Long-chain (C_18-30).

Percent of Chlorination (by weight)
	<40	40-49	50-59	60-69	>70
C10-13	A1	A2	A3	A4	A5
C14-17	B1	B2	B3	B4	B5
C18-30	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5

These hydrocarbons are reacted with chlorine resulting in chlorinated paraffins of different carbon chain lengths with varying degrees of chlorination. Thus chlorinated paraffins are a group of complex chemical substances. The general formula of CP is C_xH_(2x-y+2)Cl_y. The majority of CP products can be depicted in a 15-cell matrix, as shown above.

Last Reviewed - February 15, 2012