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Enhancing living standards

Without chlorine-based products, everyday life would simply grind to a halt.

Chlorine tends to be taken for granted. Without it, many vital benefits of modern life would not be possible.

08/2008

Many sports and other leisure activities depend on modern equipment made using chlorine-based products. Standards of living are improved by many products which could not be made without chlorine.

Key among these is PVC, the most versatile polymer available. It is durable, easy to clean, stain resistant, lightweight, corrosion resistant and needs no maintenance. Other polymers made using chlorine include:

• Flexible and rigid polyurethanes;
• Polycarbonates, used where strength is important;
• Temperature-resistant, non-stick PTFE for frying pans, bakery tins and irons;
• Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) resins used for their barrier coating properties, particularly in food packaging.

Many leisure activities rely on equipment made using chlorine, such as:

• Vinyl swimming pool liners and soccer balls;
• Golf bags;
• Nylon tents and water-proof jackets;
• Wet suits and inflatable rafts;
• Surfboards;
• Tennis rackets;
• Children's toys.

Virtually every part of the home benefits from chlorine chemistry. In house construction it is used in:

• PVC window frames and plumbing pipes;
• Concrete;
• Fibreglass insulation;
• Steel reinforcements;
• Silicone adhesives;
• Wire and cable insulation;
• Paint (chlorine is commonly used to make titanium dioxide, the non-toxic white pigment used in paints);
• Nylon carpeting;
• Garden sprinkler systems.

Inside the home, it is used to make a vast range of consumer products, including:

• Toiletries and cosmetics;
• Televisions, compact discs and DVDs.

Because of its low flammability coupled with high solvency power, the chlorinated dry cleaning solvent, perchloroethylene, has become the most widely used fabric and garment cleaner since it was introduced about 60 years ago.

Chlorine is also used to make many car components, including:

• Vinyl upholstery;
• Bumpers and mats;
• Polyurethane seat cushions;
• Dashboards;
• Fan and alternator belts, hoses, gaskets and seals;
• Petrol additives;
• Brake and transmission fluids;
• Antifreeze.

In aircraft it plays an important role. Chlorine chemistry is used in the manufacture of titanium in jet engines and aluminium in fuselages. Chlorinated solvents are also used as degreasing agents during the manufacture of metal components for aircraft engines and car braking systems.

In food production, chlorine helps to boost crop yields and quality through its use in the manufacture of 96% of crop protection chemicals. In commercial food preparation, chlorine-based products are used for:

• Sanitation (killing food-borne bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter);
• Making packaging to keep food safe and fresh and in food processing steps such as decaffeination (methylene chloride);
• Preparing sauces and jellies (monochloroacetic acid);
• Enhancing the flavour of food (sodium chloride is table salt).