Dichloromethane

Methylene chloride is used as a solvent, especially where high volatility is required. It is a good solvent for oils, fats, waxes, resins, bitumen, rubber and cellulose acetate and is a useful paint stripper and degreaser. It is used in paint removers, in propellant mixtures for aerosol containers, as a solvent for plastics, as a degreasing agent, as an extracting agent in the pharmaceutical industry, and as a blowing agent in polyurethane foams. Its solvent property is sometimes increased by mixing with methanol, petroleum naphtha, or tetrachloroethylene.Methylene chloride is the active ingredient in many formulations of paint removers including industrial paint and commercial furniture strippers, home paint removers, and products used for aircraft maintenance. The chemical has a unique ability to penetrate, blister, and lift a wide variety of paint coatings. Formulations of the chemical are used extensively in both flow-over and immersion (dip) tanks in furniture refmishing operations. For the maintenance of military and commercial aircraft, a methylene chloride-based product is often required to inspect the surface for damage.Since the mid-1990s methylene chloride has replaced 1,1,1-trichloroethane in nonflammable adhesive formulations for industrial applications, including fabrication of upholstery foam. It provides adhesive formulations with strong, instant bonding characteristics and efficacy under extremes of temperature and humidity. In foam applications, use of methylene chloride eliminates the possibility of hard seams and allows for ready compliance with flammability requirements for upholstered furniture.Methylene chloride is used in aerosols as a strong solvent, a flammability suppressant, vapor pressure depressant, and viscosity thinner. Current aerosol uses of methylene chloride include spray paints and lubricants.Methylene chloride is a leading auxiliary blowing agent used in the production of slabstock flexible polyurethane foams for the furniture and bedding industries. Methylene chloride is used as an extractant in the recovery and purification of a wide variety of materials including oils, fats, and waxes. The chemical is used for the decaffeination of coffee and tea, oleoresin extraction from a variety of spices, and for the extraction of hops. As with tablet coatings, little or none of the chemical remains in the finished product.
Methylene chloride, a chlorinated solvent, is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet-smelling odor. It is often referred to as dichloromethane. Methylene chloride has many industrial uses, such as paint stripping, metal cleaning and degreasing.