Vinyl Acetate Monomer
The vinyl ester monomer supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the building block of polyvinyl acetate adhesives, polyvinyl alcohol and EVA copolymer resin — exported from Indonesia as an inhibited, stabilised liquid with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Vinyl Acetate Monomer is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as the monomer behind an unusually wide family of adhesive, coating and resin polymers, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Vinyl Acetate Monomer is a vinyl ester: an acetate group attached to one carbon of an ethylene double bond. That double bond is the reactive centre of the molecule, opening readily under free-radical initiation to polymerise either alone or together with a wide range of comonomers — ethylene, vinyl chloride, acrylates — which is what gives vinyl acetate chemistry such an unusually broad downstream polymer family for a single monomer.
At room temperature it is a colourless, volatile, flammable liquid with a sharp, somewhat fruity odour. Because the double bond is prone to spontaneous radical polymerisation on storage, commercial material is always stabilised with a polymerisation inhibitor, most commonly hydroquinone or its monomethyl ether (MEHQ).
Where it fits in the value chain
Vinyl Acetate Monomer's largest end use is homopolymerisation to polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), the resin behind water-based wood glue, bookbinding adhesives and many emulsion paints. Copolymerisation with ethylene gives vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) copolymer emulsions, widely used in paints, construction adhesives and nonwoven fabric binders, while copolymerisation at higher ethylene content gives ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) resin, used in hot-melt adhesives, foam footwear and film. Hydrolysis of PVAc gives polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), used in textile warp sizing, paper coating and, further reacted with butyraldehyde, in the PVB interlayer at the heart of laminated safety glass.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Vinyl Acetate Monomer in polymer grade (99.9%+ purity), inhibited with MEHQ, suited to PVAc, VAE and EVA polymerisation. The grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Vinyl Acetate Monomer is produced
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.
Vinyl Acetate Monomer is produced almost exclusively today by the catalytic vapour-phase reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen over a palladium-based catalyst, commonly supported on silica together with a gold or other promoter: C₂H₄ + CH₃COOH + ½ O₂ → CH₂=CHOCOCH₃ + H₂O. The reaction is run at moderate temperature and pressure in a fixed-bed reactor, with unreacted ethylene recycled and the water by-product removed downstream.
An older route, still found in a small number of legacy plants, reacts acetylene directly with acetic acid over a zinc or mercury-based catalyst; this acetylene route has been almost entirely displaced by the ethylene route on cost and catalyst-handling grounds, and essentially all newly built capacity uses the ethylene-based process. After reaction, the crude product is purified by distillation to the required assay before inhibitor is added for storage and transport stability.
Industries and processes that use it
Vinyl Acetate Monomer is consumed across a broad span of adhesive, coating, textile and safety-glass applications, all built on the same base monomer. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
PVAc Wood Glue & Emulsion Paints
Homopolymerised to polyvinyl acetate, the resin behind water-based wood glue, bookbinding adhesive and many emulsion paint formulations.
VAE & EVA Copolymer Resins
Copolymerised with ethylene to give VAE emulsions for paints and construction adhesives, or higher-ethylene EVA resin for hot-melt adhesives, foam and film.
Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH)
Hydrolysed to polyvinyl alcohol, used in textile warp sizing, paper coating, and as the precursor to PVB interlayer for laminated safety glass.
Textile & Paper Binders
Used in a range of nonwoven fabric binder, textile finishing and paper-coating formulations built on PVAc and VAE chemistry.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The reactive vinyl double bond governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Vinyl Acetate Monomer is converted into a finished polymer.
Free-Radical Homopolymerisation
The double bond opens under a free-radical initiator and adds repeatedly to itself, building the polyvinyl acetate polymer chain, typically carried out as an emulsion or solution polymerisation.
Free-Radical Copolymerisation
The double bond opens and adds alongside ethylene, vinyl chloride or acrylate comonomers under free-radical initiation, building VAE, EVA or other vinyl acetate copolymer chains.
Alkaline or Acid Hydrolysis (to PVOH)
Once polymerised to PVAc, the acetate side-groups are hydrolysed off under alkaline or acid conditions, replacing them with hydroxyl groups to give polyvinyl alcohol.
Acetalisation (to PVB)
Polyvinyl alcohol is further reacted with butyraldehyde under acid catalysis to give polyvinyl butyral, the tough, adhesive interlayer resin used in laminated safety glass.
Vinyl Acetate Monomer against other vinyl monomers we supply
Buyers sourcing VAM for polymer chemistry often also need the ethylene feedstock it is produced from, or the related vinyl chloride monomer for comparison. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl Acetate Monomer | 108-05-4 | Vinyl ester monomer | The product on this page — the monomer behind PVAc adhesives, VAE/EVA resins and polyvinyl alcohol. |
| Vinyl Chloride Monomer | 75-01-4 | Vinyl halide monomer | A related vinyl monomer, the sole feedstock for PVC — see its product page. |
| Ethylene | 74-85-1 | C2 olefin | The feedstock olefin this monomer is produced from, and a common comonomer in VAE/EVA resins — see its product page. |
| Propylene | 115-07-1 | C3 olefin | A related petrochemical olefin from the same steam-cracking chain — 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 Vinyl Acetate Monomer.
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.
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
Suspected of causing cancer.
Causes skin irritation.
Causes serious eye irritation.
May cause respiratory irritation.
Can polymerise spontaneously and exothermically if the inhibitor is depleted or exhausted; inhibitor levels must be monitored in storage.
Flame-resistant workwear, chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles and appropriate respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Danger — GHS02 flammable and GHS08 health hazard pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable liquid, is suspected of causing cancer, causes skin and eye irritation and may cause respiratory irritation, and can polymerise spontaneously and exothermically if its inhibitor is depleted. It must be handled with ignition-source control, chemical-resistant PPE, inhibitor-level monitoring and adequate ventilation at all times. 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 area shielded from direct sun, inhibited with MEHQ, away from heat, sparks, open flame and oxidising agents, with the inhibitor level monitored periodically since depletion over time is the main driver of unplanned polymerisation in storage. Re-check inhibitor content and purity on any material held beyond its agreed retest interval 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 Vinyl Acetate Monomer 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 Vinyl Acetate Monomer used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Vinyl Acetate Monomer?+
03How is Vinyl Acetate Monomer produced?+
04What purity grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Vinyl Acetate Monomer hazardous?+
06Why does one monomer feed such a wide family of different polymers?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other vinyl monomers and their feedstock olefin as well?+
Need Vinyl Acetate Monomer on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.