Trichloroethylene is an effective solvent for a variety of organic materials. It is mainly used for cleaning. Trichloroethylene is an ingredient in various printing ink, varnishes and industrial paint formulations, as an active ingredient. Other uses include dyeing and finishing operations, adhesive formulations, the rubber industry, adhesives, lacquers, and paint strippers. It is applied before plating, anodizing, and painting.
When trichloroethylene was first widely produced in the 1920s, its major use was to extract vegetable oils from plant materials such as soy, coconut, and palm. Other uses in the food industry included coffee decaffeination (removal of caffeine) and the preparation of flavoring extracts from hops and spices. TCE was used a freezing point depressant in carbon tetrachloride fire extinguishers.
Dehydrochlorination of trichloroethylene with potassium hydride gives dichloroacetylene. Trichloroethylene is also a chain terminator for polyvinyl chloride. Chlorination gives pentachloroethane.