Methylene Chloride/Dichloromethane
Methylene Chloride, also known as dichloromethane and DCM, is an organic solvent that is not miscible with water. Because it can degrade, it is usually stabilized with with cyclohexane, alkyl amines and/or proplyene oxide.

DCM is made by treating methane gas (a carbon with with four potential bonding points) with chlorine gas. The gasses react to form a mixture of four products: Chloromethane (1 chlorine),  Chloroform (3 chlorines), Carbon Tetrachloride (Carbon-Tet, 4 chlorines) and Dichloromethane (2 chlorines). Because multiple products can be produced at the same time, there is flexibility with the producers to vary production to meet demand. 

Market Dynamics:
About half of the DCM produced is used in construction (paint remover, adhesives). Other uses include pharma (10%). Other applications include metal cleaning and polyurethane. 

Up Stream Materials/Building Blocks:

Chloromethane 

Chlorine gas

Crude Oil 

Methane 

Natural Gas/Crude Oil

Sodium Chloride

Co-products: Chloromethane, Chloroform, and Carbon Tetrachloride

Stabilizers: Cyclohexane, Alkyl Amines and/or Proplyene Oxide

Down Stream Materials Consuming Methylene Chloride:

​​Adhesives

Aerosols

Chemical processing

Decaffeinate coffee/tea 

Degreaser

Metal cleaning

Paint removers

Polyurethane foam

Prepare extracts/flavorings