Chlor-alkali chemistry helps keeps us on the move.
Many essential products, which come from chlor-alkali building blocks are found in materials in planes, trains and cars including:
- strong titanium aircraft wings,
- safe shatter-resistant windows,
- batteries for electric vehicles,
- comfortable polyurethane seating,
- PVC prosthetic limbs
- protective polycarbonate safety bike helmets,
- sturdy polyurethane shoe soles
Chlor-alkali chemistry also helped the Solar Impulse in its famous round-the-world flight.
Light-weight but strong, carbon-fibre polymers made up much of the body of the aircraft, all made using chlorine chemistry. Even the silicon-based solar panels were purified thanks to chlor-alkali. Polyurethane kept the cabin and battery compartments well insulated from the large variations in temperature (-40 to +40oC) as the plane made its historic journey. Polyurethane is a plastic material that can be made using chlorinated chemicals.
Back on the ground, calcium chloride is a white salt that performs very well at preventing ice formation. As such, every year it helps to de-ice roads and prevent accidents. Potassium hydroxide, can also help to de-ice planes as they wait to take-off.