Acrylonitrile
The vinyl nitrile monomer supplied by Chelora Chemicals — known in the trade as AN, the essential feedstock for acrylic fibre, ABS resin, nitrile rubber and adiponitrile manufacture — exported from Indonesia in inhibited, stabilised ISO tanks and drums with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Acrylonitrile is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as a reactive vinyl nitrile, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Acrylonitrile combines a reactive vinyl double bond with a nitrile group on the same three-carbon backbone. The vinyl group makes it an eager radical-polymerisation monomer much like styrene or acrylic acid, while the polar, strongly electron-withdrawing nitrile group gives polymers built from it distinctive chemical resistance, barrier properties and, after further reaction, a route into nitrogen-containing intermediates such as adiponitrile.
At room temperature it is a colourless to pale-yellow, highly flammable and toxic liquid with a sharp, pungent odour, partially soluble in water and miscible with most organic solvents. Like other reactive vinyl monomers it is shipped with a polymerisation inhibitor and requires temperature-controlled, oxygen-headspace-controlled storage to remain stable in transit.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Acrylonitrile's largest use is as the monomer for polyacrylonitrile (acrylic and modacrylic fibre) and as a comonomer in ABS and SAN engineering resins and acrylonitrile-butadiene (nitrile) rubber, prized for its oil and solvent resistance. A major further use is electrochemical or catalytic dimerisation to adiponitrile, which is hydrogenated to hexamethylenediamine, the essential nylon 66 co-monomer — tying acrylonitrile directly into the nylon supply chain.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Acrylonitrile in a single polymer grade (99.5%+ assay, inhibited with hydroquinone monomethyl ether or an equivalent stabiliser) suitable for fibre, resin, rubber and adiponitrile-precursor manufacture, supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Acrylonitrile 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.
Acrylonitrile is manufactured almost exclusively by the Sohio process: the catalytic ammoxidation of propylene with ammonia and oxygen (air) over a mixed metal oxide catalyst, typically bismuth molybdate-based, in a fluidised-bed reactor at moderate temperature: CH₂=CHCH₃ + NH₃ + 1.5 O₂ → CH₂=CHCN + 3 H₂O. Acetonitrile and hydrogen cyanide form as recoverable co-products of the same reaction.
Why the Sohio ammoxidation process is universal
Ammoxidation converts propylene, ammonia and oxygen directly into acrylonitrile in a single catalytic step with good selectivity and well-understood fluidised-bed engineering, which is why it has been the dominant commercial route since the process was first commercialised and remains essentially the only route used at scale today.
Industries and processes that use it
Acrylonitrile is consumed across fibre, engineering resin, rubber and nylon-chain manufacture, where its combination of vinyl reactivity and nitrile chemistry is the main draw. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Polyacrylonitrile (Acrylic) Fibre
Polymerised to polyacrylonitrile, the basis of acrylic and modacrylic textile fibre, and a precursor to carbon fibre via controlled pyrolysis.
ABS & SAN Engineering Resins
Copolymerised with styrene and butadiene to make ABS, and with styrene alone to make SAN, both widely used engineering thermoplastics.
Nitrile (NBR) Rubber
Copolymerised with butadiene to make acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, prized for its oil, fuel and solvent resistance in seals, hoses and gaskets.
Adiponitrile & Nylon 66 Chain
Electrochemically or catalytically dimerised to adiponitrile, then hydrogenated to hexamethylenediamine, the essential nylon 66 co-monomer.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The conjugated vinyl-nitrile system governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Acrylonitrile is converted into a finished product or intermediate.
Free-Radical Polymerisation
A radical initiator opens the vinyl double bond and propagates a growing polymer chain, the basis of polyacrylonitrile fibre and ABS/SAN resin manufacture.
Electrohydrodimerisation (to Adiponitrile)
Two acrylonitrile molecules couple reductively at an electrode to form adiponitrile, the direct precursor to hexamethylenediamine for nylon 66.
Free-Radical Copolymerisation (NBR)
Copolymerises with butadiene to build acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, with acrylonitrile content tuned to balance oil resistance against low-temperature flexibility.
Catalytic Ammoxidation (Upstream)
Propylene, ammonia and oxygen combine over a fluidised-bed catalyst to form acrylonitrile itself, the first and essentially only industrial step in the whole chain.
Acrylonitrile against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Acrylonitrile for fibre, resin, rubber or nylon-chain manufacture often need a related monomer or the downstream nylon diamine. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylonitrile | 107-13-1 | Vinyl nitrile monomer | The product on this page — the feedstock for acrylic fibre, ABS, NBR and adiponitrile. |
| Acrylic Acid | 79-10-7 | Vinyl carboxylic acid monomer | A related propylene-derived vinyl monomer — see its product page. |
| Hexamethylenediamine | 124-09-4 | Six-carbon diamine | The nylon 66 diamine made downstream via adiponitrile — see its product page. |
| Styrene Monomer | 100-42-5 | Vinyl aromatic monomer | The comonomer paired with acrylonitrile in ABS and SAN resin — 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 Acrylonitrile.
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.
Toxic if inhaled.
Causes skin irritation.
Suspected of causing cancer.
Chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles and supplied-air or cartridge respiratory protection are mandatory for routine handling.
Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame; ground and bond containers during transfer given the very low flash point.
Can polymerise violently if the inhibitor is depleted or the material is exposed to excess heat or contamination — monitor inhibitor level in storage.
Danger — GHS02 flammable, GHS06 toxic and GHS08 health-hazard pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable liquid that is toxic if inhaled, causes skin irritation, and is suspected of causing cancer. It can also polymerise violently if its inhibitor is depleted. It must be handled only with chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof eye protection, supplied-air or cartridge respiratory protection, and kept well away from heat and open flame. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and must be read in full and followed without exception 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 below 20 °C, out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources, acids, bases and oxidizing agents, in tightly closed original packaging with the specified minimum oxygen headspace to keep the inhibitor effective. Only trained personnel using proper respiratory protection should handle this material given its acute toxicity. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check inhibitor level, assay and colour 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 Acrylonitrile leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant 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 of Acrylonitrile 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 Acrylonitrile used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Acrylonitrile?+
03How is Acrylonitrile made?+
04What grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Acrylonitrile hazardous?+
06How is Acrylonitrile connected to nylon 66 manufacture?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply Hexamethylenediamine as well?+
Need Acrylonitrile on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.