Calcium chloride-CaCl2, is a common salt. It behaves as a typical ionic halide, and is solid at room temperature.It is white pwoder,flakes,pellets and easily abosorb moisture.
In the petroleum industry, calcium chloride is used to increase the density of solid-free brine and to inhibit clay expansion in the aqueous phase of the emulsion drilling fluid.
As a flux, it can reduce the melting point in the process of producing sodium metal by electrolytic melting of sodium chloride by David method.
When making ceramics, calcium chloride is used as an ingredient. It makes the clay particles suspend in the solution, making them easier to use when grouting.
Calcium chloride helps speed up the initial setting in concrete, but chloride ions cause corrosion in steel bars, so calcium chloride cannot be used in reinforced concrete.
Anhydrous calcium chloride can provide a certain amount of moisture to concrete due to its hygroscopicity.
Calcium chloride is also an additive in plastics and fire extinguishers. It is used as a filter aid in waste water treatment and as an additive in blast furnace to control the accumulation and adhesion of raw materials so as to avoid the settling of burden. It plays a role as a diluent in fabric softener.
The exothermic nature of calcium chloride dissolution makes it useful for self-heating cans and heating pads.