Dow, Freeport, Tex. Trichloroethylene can be produced by chlorination of ethylene or ethylene dichloride.
Capacities are flexible.
Dow is scheduled to complete a two-year expansion program in 1998 to raise capacity and improve efficiency of its trichloroethylene operation at Freeport. In vapor degreasing, TCE has regained some market share as a result of the phaseout of 1,1,1-trichloroethane for emissive uses. Growth prospects for TCE as a fluorocarbon feedstock hold more potential, however, particularly its use as a precursor for the workhorse hydrofluorocarbon product, HFC-134a. Although metal cleaning uses will likely continue to increase modestly through the late 1990s because of the phaseout of 1,1,1, the longer term outlook is less favorable. More stringent state and local regulations covering emissions of chlorinated solvents continue to put pressure on small users.