Chlorinated paraffins are synthesized by reaction of chlorine gas with unbranched paraffin fractions (<2 % isoparaffins, <100 ppm aromatics) at a temperature of 80–100 °C. The radical substitution may be promoted by UV-light.
: CH + y Cl → CHCl + y HCl
When the desired degree of chlorination is achieved, residues of hydrochloric acid and chlorine are blown off with nitrogen. Epoxidized vegetable oil, glycidyl ether or organophosphorous compounds may be added to the final product for improved stability at high temperatures.
Commercial products have been classified as substances of unknown or variable composition. CPs are complex mixtures of chlorinated n-alkanes containing thousands of homologues and isomers which are not completely separated by standard analytical methods.
CPs are produced in Europe, North America, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and Asia. In China, where most of the world production capacity is located, 600,000 tons of chlorinated paraffins were produced in 2007. Production and use volumes of CPs exceeded 1,000,000 tons in 2013.