Former use Hexachloroethane is used in refining aluminium alloys. It is also used for removing impurities from molten metals, recovering metals from ores or smelting products and improving the quality of various metals and alloys. Hexachloroethane is contained in pyrotechnics. It inhibits the explosiveness of methane and the combustion of ammonium perchlorate.
Smoke containing hexachloroethane is used to extinguish fires.
Hexachloroethane has various applications as a polymer additive. It has flame proofing qualities, increases sensitivity to radiation crosslinking, and is used as a vulcanizing agent. Added to polymer fibers, it acts as a swelling agent and increases affinity for dyes. Hexachloroethane is also reported to be produced in very small quantities from chlorination of raw water during drinking water treatment. If released to unadapted soil, this compound may persist for greater than 2 years and could potentially contaminate groundwater.