Chlorine-paraffine "Hordalub" made by Hoechst. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are a complex mixture of polychlorinated n-alkanes and were introduced in the 1930s. The chlorination degree of CPs can vary between 30 and 70%. Currently, over 200 CP formulations are in use for a wide range of industrial applications, such as flame retardants and plasticisers, as additives in metal working fluids, in sealants, paints and coatings and as a solvent for Dichloramine T.
SCCPs are classified as persistent and their physical properties imply a high potential for bioaccumulation. Furthermore, CPs are classified as toxic to aquatic organisms, and carcinogenic to rats and mice.