What is trichloroethylene (tce)?
Trichloroethylene is a chlorinated solvent long used for vapour degreasing metal parts. It cleans aggressively but is a recognised carcinogen, is tightly regulated, requires a sealed vapour enclosure at 90–100 °C, and is being phased out of Indian manufacturing in favour of aqueous chemistry.
Also called: TCE, trichlor, trike
- TCE vapour zone
- 90–100 °C
- Aqueous wash
- 55–65 °C
- Health classification
- Recognised carcinogen
- Rinse required
- No (TCE) / Yes (aqueous)
TCE earned its place because it dissolves mineral oil on contact and evaporates without residue, so parts leave the degreaser dry and require no rinse stage. For decades that made it the default for precision component cleaning.
The costs caught up with it. TCE is classified as carcinogenic to humans, and exposure controls, monitoring, effluent handling and disposal now carry real cost and real liability. The vapour zone must be held near the boiling point, which is an energy load; solvent drag-out and evaporative loss mean continuous top-up; and a single regulatory action can stop a line.
An aqueous replacement changes the process, not just the chemical. You gain a rinse and a dry stage, and you lose the flammability-free-but-toxic vapour zone, the 90–100 °C energy load and the exposure monitoring. Power Clean's switching guidance covers the bath sizing, cycle times and rust protection that make that transition work.
