Adipic Acid
The six-carbon dicarboxylic acid supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the essential co-monomer of nylon 66 alongside hexamethylenediamine, and a key raw material for polyurethane polyester polyols — exported from Indonesia as white crystalline powder with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Adipic Acid is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its foundational role as the diacid half of the nylon 66 monomer pair, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Adipic Acid is a straight-chain, six-carbon dicarboxylic acid: a carboxylic acid group at each end of a four-carbon methylene chain. Each acid group is independently reactive toward esterification and amide formation, and the fixed six-carbon spacing between them is exactly what a diamine condensation partner such as hexamethylenediamine needs to build the alternating amide linkages of nylon 66, matching the diamine's own six-carbon spacing to give the polymer its name and its regular repeating structure.
At room temperature it is a white, odourless crystalline solid or powder, only moderately soluble in cold water but considerably more soluble in hot water and in alcohols. It melts at a well-defined temperature and begins to decompose, rather than boil cleanly, if heated well above its melting point at atmospheric pressure.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Adipic Acid's single largest end use is as the diacid co-monomer, condensed in exact 1:1 stoichiometry with hexamethylenediamine, to form nylon 66, the polymer used across engineering plastics, textile and carpet fibre, and industrial yarns and tyre cord. Beyond nylon 66, it is a major raw material for polyester polyols used in polyurethane foam, coatings and adhesives, for adipate ester plasticisers (such as dioctyl adipate) used to give PVC films and sheeting low-temperature flexibility, and for unsaturated polyester resins and food-grade applications, where it serves as an approved acidulant (E355).
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Adipic Acid in nylon grade (99.8%+ assay) as crystalline powder, suited to nylon 66 polymerisation, polyurethane polyester-polyol manufacture and plasticiser-ester production. The grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Adipic Acid is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Adipic Acid is manufactured predominantly by the nitric acid oxidation of a cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone mixture, commonly referred to in the industry as 'KA oil' (ketone-alcohol oil). The KA oil is itself produced by catalytic air oxidation of cyclohexane, and is then oxidised further with nitric acid, typically catalysed by copper and vanadium salts, which cleaves the six-membered carbocyclic ring and oxidises both resulting chain ends to carboxylic acids: KA oil + HNO₃ → HOOC(CH₂)₄COOH + N₂O (and other nitrogen oxides).
Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is generated as a significant by-product of this nitric acid oxidation step, and because N₂O is a potent greenhouse gas, modern adipic acid plants are generally equipped with dedicated abatement systems that thermally or catalytically decompose the N₂O before it is released, a significant process and environmental consideration in the industry. The crude adipic acid is purified by crystallisation to the assay and colour specification required for nylon-grade material.
Industries and processes that use it
Adipic Acid is consumed predominantly by nylon 66 manufacture, with substantial secondary demand from polyurethane polyester polyols and adipate ester plasticisers. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Nylon 66 Co-Monomer
Condensed in exact 1:1 stoichiometry with hexamethylenediamine to give nylon 66, used in engineering resin, fibre and tyre cord.
Polyurethane Polyester Polyols
A key raw material for polyester-type polyols used in polyurethane foam, coatings and adhesive systems.
Adipate Ester Plasticisers
Esterified with alcohols such as 2-ethylhexanol to give dioctyl adipate and related plasticisers that impart low-temperature flexibility to PVC film and sheeting.
Unsaturated Polyester Resin & Food Acidulant
Used as a co-monomer in select unsaturated polyester resin formulations, and as an approved food acidulant (E355) in some processed food applications.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The two terminal carboxylic acid groups and the fixed six-carbon spacing between them govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Adipic Acid is converted into a finished polymer or intermediate.
Salt Formation (Nylon Salt)
Neutralisation with hexamethylenediamine in precise 1:1 stoichiometry gives 'nylon salt,' the purified feedstock fed directly into nylon-66 polymerisation reactors.
Step-Growth Condensation to Nylon 66
Reacts with hexamethylenediamine in alternating fashion, forming amide bonds at each step and releasing water, to build the nylon 66 polymer chain.
Esterification
Each carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol to form an ester linkage, the route to both polyester polyols and adipate plasticiser esters.
Catalytic Hydrogenation to Diol / Diamine Precursors
Under appropriate catalysis, adipic acid or its esters can be hydrogenated toward 1,6-hexanediol or further processed toward other six-carbon aliphatic building blocks used elsewhere in polymer chemistry.
Adipic Acid against other polyamide and polyester intermediates we supply
Buyers sourcing adipic acid for nylon 66 manufacture need the matching diamine co-monomer in parallel, and often also want the nylon 6 monomer or polyester-chain feedstocks for comparison. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adipic Acid | 124-04-9 | Dicarboxylic acid | The product on this page — the diacid co-monomer of nylon 66. |
| Hexamethylenediamine | 124-09-4 | Aliphatic diamine | The exact diamine co-monomer this diacid condenses with, in 1:1 stoichiometry, to form nylon 66 — see its product page. |
| Caprolactam | 105-60-2 | Cyclic lactam | The single-monomer alternative used to make nylon 6 — see its product page. |
| Purified Terephthalic Acid | 100-21-0 | Dicarboxylic acid | A related aromatic dicarboxylic acid, the primary raw material for PET polyester — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Adipic Acid.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Causes serious eye irritation.
May cause respiratory irritation.
Comparatively low acute oral and dermal toxicity relative to many industrial organic acids; approved as a food acidulant in purified grade.
Handled as crystalline powder; minimise airborne dust during transfer and packing.
Safety goggles and dust-suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Combustible as a fine dust under specific conditions; avoid dust accumulation and ignition sources during handling.
Food-grade material (E355) meets the relevant food-additive purity specification; industrial grade should not be substituted for food use.
Warning — GHS07 harmful pictogram applies.
This compound causes serious eye irritation and may cause respiratory irritation when handled as fine dust, but has a comparatively low acute toxicity profile and is approved as a food acidulant in its purified grade. It should be handled with eye protection and dust control during milling and packing. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry area away from strong oxidising agents, in tightly closed original packaging, protected from moisture, which can cause caking. Food-grade material should be stored and handled under dedicated, food-safe conditions separate from industrial-grade stock. Re-check assay and colour on a batch held past its retest date before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Adipic Acid leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Adipic Acid used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Adipic Acid?+
03How is Adipic Acid made?+
04What purity grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Adipic Acid hazardous?+
06Why does nylon 66 specifically need a six-carbon diacid?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the matching nylon 66 diamine as well?+
Need Adipic Acid on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.