The term chlorinated paraffins is usually taken to encompass a wide range of liquids and solids from C10 to >C24 and containing 30-72% chlorine content. It is a Colourless to amber or yellow viscous liquid. Properties (including ecotoxicology) differ significantly across this range and for this reason, they are best considered in three separate groups. 1) The C10-13 liquid products from 40-72% C12 content. 2) The C14-17, C18-20 and chlorinated paraffin wax liquids from 40-60% C12 content. 3) The powder chlorinated paraffin waxes of >69% C12 content CPs has very low vapour pressure with the most volatile (C10-13 types) < 10-3 mbar. They are chemically very stable but dehydrochlorinate on heating at high temperatures (or for prolonged periods). Dehydrochlorination also occurs on prolonged exposure to light. The largest application for chlorinated paraffins is as a plasticizer, generally in conjunction with primary plasticizers such as certain phthalates in flexible PVC. The use of chlorinated paraffins in PVC imparts a number of technical benefits, of which the most significant is the enhancement of flame-retardant properties. This is particularly of benefit in PVC flooring and cables. Chlorinated paraffins are also used as plasticizers in paint, sealants and adhesives where the main advantages over alternatives are their inertness and the enhancement of flame-retardant properties. Higher chlorine content grades are used as flame-retardants in a wide range of rubbers and polymer systems, where they are often used in preference to phosphate and bromine-based additives. The other major outlet for chlorinated paraffins is in the formulation of metalworking lubricants where they have long been recognized as one of the most effective extreme pressure additives for lubricants used in a wide range of machining and engineering operations. In all of these applications, there is a long history of safe use and some major customers have been using chlorinated paraffins for over 50 years. The Indian installed capacity for CPW is around 0.195 million tonnes per annum There are a number of producers of CPW in India both in the organized and unorganized sector. The production of CPW of various grades is around 0.135 million tonnes per annum. The demand for CPW would be largely driven by the performance of the end user sector. The Indian demand including export demand from the period April 2010 to March 2011 is around 145000 metric tonnes per annum. The total world production of chlorinated paraffins is approximately 300,000 tonnes per year. The range of chlorinated paraffins available is generally grouped into a number of distinct 'families', depending on the chain-length of the feedstock, i.e.: Short-chain: based on C10-13 paraffin; medium-chain: based on C14-17 paraffin; long-chain: based on C18-20 (liquids), C>20 (liquids) and C20 wax grades (average carbon chain length approximately C25) Liquid grades of chlorinated paraffin are produced from each of these feedstock types. The solid grades (with 70-72% chlorine content) are made from a wax feedstock. Chlorinated paraffins are manufactured by the chlorination of n-paraffin or paraffin wax, normally in a batch process. The reaction is exothermic and leads to the generation of the by-product hydrochloric acid. After removing residual traces of acid, a stabiliser is added to produce finished batches. Chlorinated paraffins, which contain 30-70% chlorine, are largely inert and almost insoluble in water. Paraffins have extremely low vapour pressure. Most commercial chlorinated paraffin products are liquid and range from relatively low to extremely high viscosity. There are also solid types which have longer carbon chain lengths and usually contain 70-72% chlorine. Increasing the chlorine content, results in products with higher viscosity and density. Chlorinated paraffins are capable of mixing with many organic solvents such as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, ketones and esters. Major producers:INEOS Chlor, Caffaro, QuÃmica del Cinca, Leuna Tenside and Novácke Chemické Závody in the EU; Dover Chemicals in North America; NCP Exports in South Africa; Orica in Australia. There are numerous other producers in Asia, principally in India, China, Taiwan (Handy) and Japan (Tosoh). There is a very good scope and market potential for this product both in domestic and global market.