Vinyl Acetate Monomer
The precursor monomer to PVAc, EVA and PVOH — the starting point for adhesives, coatings, films, foams and personal-care polymers worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies VAM to polymer manufacturers worldwide, with full documentation, inhibitor-stabilised formulation and consistent purity on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 108-05-4
- IUPAC name
- Ethenyl acetate
- Molecular formula
- C₄H₆O₂
- Molecular weight
- 86.09 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 72.7 °C
- Melting point
- -93.5 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1301
- HS Code
- 2915 32
Note: VAM requires inhibitor-stabilised formulation to prevent premature polymerisation during storage and transport; we confirm the exact classification for your specific shipment before booking.
What Vinyl Acetate Monomer is used for
Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) is a colourless, flammable liquid with a characteristic sharp, fruity odour, the ester of acetic acid and acetaldehyde (vinyl alcohol). It is shipped inhibitor-stabilised to prevent premature polymerisation during storage and transport.
VAM is the foundational monomer for a distinct family of vinyl polymer chemistry. Its largest downstream products are polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), used in adhesives, paints and coatings; ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, used in foams, films, hot-melt adhesives and footwear; and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), used in textile sizing, packaging film and paper coatings. VAM is also copolymerised into vinyl-acetate/acrylic-acid (VA/AA) copolymers and PVCA, and into VP/VA copolymers used in hair gels and personal-care formulations, and finds use in organic synthesis via transacetylation and Diels-Alder reactions.
A distinct chemistry family
- Not part of the polyester chain. VAM shares no monomers or production routes with the ethylene-glycol/terephthalate chemistry (MEG, PTA, DMT, PET) covered elsewhere in our range.
- Not part of the polyamide chain. It is unrelated to the caprolactam/adipic-acid chemistry behind Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6.
- Vinyl polymer chemistry. VAM stands as its own feedstock family, supplying PVAc, EVA and PVOH production.
Handling character
VAM carries a GHS Danger signal word, as an extremely flammable liquid and suspected carcinogen. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colourless liquid |
| Assay | 99.9% min (polymer grade) |
| Inhibitor content | Within producer specification |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | 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 | Clear, colourless, flammable liquid |
| Boiling point | 72.7 °C |
| Melting point | -93.5 °C |
| Density | 0.934 g/cm³ |
| Flash point | ~-8 °C (extremely flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 108-05-4 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this monomer to work
One monomer, three major downstream polymer families.
Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)
Polymerised into PVAc for wood/paper adhesives, paints and coatings.
- Polymer-grade specification
- Drum & bulk supply
- Technical desk review on request
Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)
Copolymerised with ethylene to form EVA for foams, film and hot-melt adhesives.
- Consistent purity specification
- Documented batch traceability
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)
Hydrolysed from PVAc precursor to form PVOH for textile sizing and packaging film.
- Contract & spot supply
- Full analytical documentation available
VA/AA & PVCA copolymers
Copolymerised with acrylic acid or vinyl chloride for specialty copolymer applications.
- Packs sized to customer volumes
- Retained sample held against the lot
VP/VA copolymers for personal care
Used in VP/VA copolymers found in hair gels and personal-care formulations.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Polymer plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Vinyl Acetate Monomer
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Inhibitor stabilisation and purity are critical given VAM's flammability and polymerisation tendency — 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-stabilised formulation confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to safe storage and transport.
- UN 1301 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 sourced to your specification. Matched precisely to your PVAc, EVA or PVOH process.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum or bulk tank, always inhibitor-stabilised — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200 litre drums
Steel drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities, inhibitor-stabilised.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption polymer plants.
UN 1301 classification
Shipped and labelled per UN 1301 flammable-liquid dangerous-goods regulations throughout.
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.
Extremely flammable liquid — suspected carcinogen
VAM demands strict control of ignition sources and inhalation exposure. 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.H332Harmful if inhaled.H335May cause respiratory irritation.H351Suspected of causing cancer.
Strict ignition-source control required. Keep away from heat, sparks, open flame and all other ignition sources; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and store accordingly.
Storage
Store in tightly closed, inhibitor-stabilised containers in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sparks and all ignition sources, and segregated from oxidisers and polymerisation initiators.
Handling
Use standard PPE (gloves, eye protection, respiratory protection where ventilation is limited). Bond and ground equipment during transfer to control static discharge; monitor inhibitor levels during extended storage.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1301 (flammable liquid, Class 3) with inhibitor-stabilised formulation maintained throughout. We confirm and document the 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, inhibitor content and acidity 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.
Where VAM fits in polymer chemistry
VAM is the ester of acetic acid and vinyl alcohol, carrying a reactive vinyl (C=C) group that enables free-radical polymerisation. Polymerised alone, it forms polyvinyl acetate (PVAc); copolymerised with ethylene, it forms EVA; and PVAc can be further hydrolysed to form polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). Its vinyl group also copolymerises readily with acrylic acid, vinyl chloride and other vinyl monomers.
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 | Vinyl ester |
|---|---|
| Functional group | Vinyl (C=C) ester group |
| Reactivity | Free-radical homopolymerisation (PVAc) and copolymerisation (EVA, VA/AA, VP/VA) |
| Related polymers | Polyvinyl Acetate, EVA copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH) |
Browse the full product catalogue
VAM sits in its own vinyl-polymer chemistry family; for the polyester and polyamide intermediates on this site, see the categories below.
Vinyl Acetate Monomer, answered
What is Vinyl Acetate Monomer used for?
Is Vinyl Acetate Monomer part of the polyester/polyamide chemistry on this site?
Is Vinyl Acetate Monomer hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
- Browse our full product catalogue for related intermediates.
Get a quote on Vinyl Acetate Monomer today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.