Vinyl Chloride Monomer
The sole monomer used to manufacture PVC resin — the polymer behind pipes, cables, profiles, films and a vast share of the world's rigid and flexible plastics.
Chelora Chemicals supplies VCM to PVC and compounding plants worldwide, with pressurised, inhibitor-stabilised handling and full regulatory documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 75-01-4
- IUPAC name
- Chloroethene
- Molecular formula
- C₂H₃Cl
- Molecular weight
- 62.50 g/mol
- Boiling point
- -13.4 °C
- Melting point
- -153.8 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1086
- HS Code
- 2903 21
Note: VCM is a liquefied gas at ambient temperature and pressure — it ships and is stored under pressure. Confirm exact classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What VCM is used for
Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) is a colourless, flammable gas with a mild, sweet odour, handled and shipped as a liquefied gas under its own vapour pressure. It is the two-carbon chloro-olefin formed from ethylene and chlorine, and its entire commercial purpose is as a polymerisation feedstock.
VCM's only significant industrial use is as the monomer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), produced by free-radical polymerisation (suspension, emulsion or bulk processes) into PVC resin. PVC in turn is compounded into rigid pipe and fittings, window profiles, cable and wire insulation, flexible film and sheet, flooring, and medical tubing. Essentially all VCM produced worldwide is consumed captively or sold directly into PVC manufacture.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Ethylene the feedstock, chlorinated to ethylene dichloride (EDC). See that page.
- Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) thermally cracked to produce VCM and co-product HCl, which is recycled to make more EDC.
- Vinyl Chloride Monomer (this product) polymerised to PVC resin — its sole commercial outlet.
Handling character
VCM is extremely flammable and a known human carcinogen, and ships as a pressurised liquefied gas. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquefied gas |
| Assay | 99.9% min (polymer grade) |
| Acetylene content | Within producer specification (ppm level) |
| Stabiliser/inhibitor | As required for the intended polymerisation route |
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 | Liquefied gas under pressure at ambient temperature |
| Boiling point | -13.4 °C |
| Melting point | -153.8 °C |
| Density (liquid) | 0.911 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Slightly soluble (~1.1 g/L) |
| Flash point | -78 °C (extremely flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 75-01-4 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put VCM to work
Effectively one molecule, one destination: PVC resin for the construction, cable and packaging industries.
PVC resin production
Polymerised by suspension, emulsion or bulk processes into PVC homopolymer and copolymer resin.
- Polymer-grade specification
- Pressurised bulk & ISO tank supply
- Technical desk review on request
Pipes & fittings
Rigid PVC pipe, fittings and profiles for water supply, drainage and construction.
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Cable & wire insulation
Flexible PVC compounds for electrical cable jacketing and wire insulation.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Film, sheet & flooring
Flexible and rigid film, sheet, vinyl flooring and wallcovering applications.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Medical & profile applications
Medical-grade tubing, window profiles and other specialty PVC compounds.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
PVC 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 Vinyl Chloride Monomer
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. VCM's carcinogen classification and pressurised handling make producer selection and logistics control 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 and transport requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your PVC production problem.
- Polymer-grade purity confirmed before we quote. Acetylene and inhibitor levels matter to downstream polymerisation performance.
- UN 1086 documentation managed end to end. Classification, pressurised packaging approval 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 pressurised packaging, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Polymer-grade material sourced to your process. Matched precisely to your suspension, emulsion or bulk PVC route.
Shipped under pressure, handled with care
ISO tank, pressurised rail car or cylinder — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
Pressurised cylinders
Steel pressure cylinders for small-volume orders and trial quantities.
Pressurised ISO tank shipment
ISO tank containers rated for liquefied-gas transport, for continuous-consumption PVC plants.
Bulk tanker delivery
Pressurised rail cars or road tankers for large-volume domestic and regional delivery.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small pressurised 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.
May cause cancer — handled under strict controls
VCM is both extremely flammable and a confirmed human carcinogen, and requires pressurised, closed-system handling throughout. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H220Extremely flammable gas.H280Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated.H350May cause cancer.
Closed-system handling only. VCM must be handled in sealed, vented systems with continuous gas detection; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and follow site exposure-control procedures.
Storage
Store in pressurised vessels in a cool, well-ventilated, bunded area away from ignition sources and oxidisers, with continuous leak detection.
Handling
Handle only in closed systems with appropriate gas detection, forced ventilation and PPE; avoid any inhalation or skin contact, and eliminate ignition sources from the handling area.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1086 (Vinyl chloride, stabilized), a flammable, pressurised, carcinogenic gas. We confirm and document exact classification, approved pressure vessels and routing 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, acetylene content and stabiliser level confirmed against your polymerisation route before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and pressurised-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 VCM is made
VCM is produced industrially from ethylene dichloride (EDC), which is thermally cracked at high temperature to split off hydrogen chloride and form VCM. The EDC itself is made by direct chlorination and oxychlorination of ethylene, with the HCl by-product from cracking recycled back into the oxychlorination step — the balanced chlorine process used by most modern VCM plants.
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 | Chloro-olefin / vinyl halide |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Vinyl group with a chlorine substituent |
| Reactivity | Free-radical polymerisation to PVC; requires inhibitor during storage |
| Related compounds | Ethylene, Ethylene Dichloride (feedstock), PVC resin (product) |
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Vinyl Chloride Monomer, answered
What is Vinyl Chloride Monomer used for?
How is VCM made?
Is Vinyl Chloride Monomer hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
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