1,1,1-Trichloroethane

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

Methyl chloroform, also known as 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), has been used extensively in the past as a metal cleaner and is consumed as a chemical intermediate for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are subsequently used as precursors in the manufacture of fluoropolymers and elastomers. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies TCA as a Class-I ozone-depleting chemical, and, therefore, its end-use as a solvent was phased out by the end of 1996. Consumption of TCA for emissive purposes has basically been eliminated under the terms of the Montreal Protocol.