Acrylonitrile
The key monomer for acrylic fibre, ABS and SAN engineering resins, and nitrile (NBR) rubber — built on the ammoxidation of propylene.
Chelora Chemicals supplies acrylonitrile to fibre, resin and rubber manufacturers worldwide, with inhibitor-stabilised handling and full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 107-13-1
- IUPAC name
- Prop-2-enenitrile
- Molecular formula
- C₃H₃N
- Molecular weight
- 53.06 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 77.3 °C
- Melting point
- -83.6 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1093
- HS Code
- 2926 10
Note: ACN is shipped stabilised with a polymerisation inhibitor; confirm exact classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What ACN is used for
Acrylonitrile (ACN) is a colourless to pale-yellow, flammable, toxic liquid with a sharp, onion-like odour, partially soluble in water and fully miscible with most organic solvents. It is produced industrially by the catalytic ammoxidation of propylene with ammonia and oxygen (the SOHIO process).
ACN's single largest use is as the monomer for acrylic and modacrylic fibre, polymerised alone or with comonomers into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibre and the precursor for carbon fibre. It is also a core building block for ABS and SAN engineering resins (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and styrene-acrylonitrile), for nitrile rubber (NBR) used in oil-resistant seals and gloves, and for adiponitrile, a precursor to nylon 6,6.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Propylene the feedstock, ammoxidised with ammonia and oxygen to acrylonitrile. See that page.
- Acrylonitrile (this product) the monomer for acrylic fibre, ABS/SAN resin and nitrile rubber.
- ABS / SAN / NBR / PAN fibre downstream polymers built on this monomer.
Handling character
ACN is toxic by inhalation, ingestion and skin contact, flammable, and a suspected human carcinogen. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to pale-yellow liquid |
| Assay | 99.5% min (polymer grade) |
| Water content | < 0.5% |
| Inhibitor (MEHQ or equivalent) | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colourless to pale-yellow, flammable liquid |
| Boiling point | 77.3 °C |
| Melting point | -83.6 °C |
| Density | 0.806 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | ~7.3 g/100 mL (partially soluble) |
| Flash point | 0 °C (highly flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 107-13-1 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put ACN to work
The monomer behind acrylic textiles, impact-resistant plastics and oil-resistant rubber.
Acrylic & modacrylic fibre
Polymerised into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibre for apparel, home textiles and the carbon-fibre precursor.
- Polymer-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
ABS & SAN resins
Copolymerised with butadiene and styrene (ABS) or styrene alone (SAN) for engineering plastics.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Nitrile rubber (NBR)
Copolymerised with butadiene into oil- and fuel-resistant nitrile rubber for seals, hoses and gloves.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Adiponitrile & nylon chain
Converted to adiponitrile, a precursor to hexamethylenediamine for nylon 6,6 production.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Carbon-fibre precursor
PAN-based carbon fibre precursor for aerospace, automotive and wind-energy composites.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Fibre, resin and rubber plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Acrylonitrile
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. ACN's toxicity and polymerisation sensitivity make inhibitor level and cold-chain logistics critical — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Inhibitor and water content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream fibre, resin and rubber polymerisation.
- UN 1093 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Polymer-grade material sourced to your process. Matched precisely to your fibre, resin or rubber specification.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-210 litre drums
Steel drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption fibre, resin and rubber plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Toxic & flammable — handle accordingly
ACN is toxic by all routes of exposure, highly flammable and a suspected carcinogen, requiring strict ventilation and exposure control. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.H301+H311+H331Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled.H351Suspected of causing cancer.
Use only with adequate ventilation and full PPE. ACN is readily absorbed through skin; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and store accordingly.
Storage
Store in tightly closed, inhibitor-stabilised containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sunlight and oxidising agents.
Handling
Use chemical-resistant gloves, eye and respiratory protection for liquid transfer. Avoid inhalation, ingestion and skin contact; provide forced ventilation and eliminate ignition sources when handling.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1093 (Acrylonitrile, stabilized), a toxic, flammable liquid. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Assay, water content and inhibitor level confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How ACN is made
ACN is produced industrially by the catalytic ammoxidation of propylene — reacting propylene with ammonia and oxygen over a fluidised-bed catalyst (the SOHIO process) — a long-established route in petrochemical chemistry. Hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile are recovered as co-products of the same reaction.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Unsaturated nitrile |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Vinyl group conjugated with a nitrile group |
| Reactivity | Free-radical and anionic polymerisation; Michael addition acceptor |
| Related compounds | Propylene (feedstock), Hydrogen Cyanide, Acetonitrile (co-products) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Acrylonitrile, answered
What is Acrylonitrile used for?
How is ACN made?
Is Acrylonitrile hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Acrylonitrile today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.