Cas No: 108-05-4
EINESC No: 108-05-4
Molecular weight: 86,090 gr/mol
Chemical Formula: C4H6O2
Chemical Structure:
Physical Properties
General Properties: colorless liquid
Odor: strawberry-like, sweet, strong
Intensity: 0.934 g/cm3
Boiling point: 72,7 °C
Melting point: -93,5 °C
Flash point: -8 °C
Vapor pressure: 100 mmHg (20 °C)
Refraction index: 1,3941 nD
Solubility (aqueous) 2 gr/100 mL (20 °C)
Viscosity:
General Properties
Vinyl acetate monomer, or VAM, is a colorless monomer which has a strong odor. It is precessor for polyvinyl acetate which is an important polymer in industry. It is an important raw material for many industrial products. It can go into many reactions which are expected for an alkene and ester.
Production
Vinyl acetate is acetate ester of vinyl alcohol. Preparation process is hard due to instability of vinyl alcohol. A common method is reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen, catalyzed by palladium.
Applications
Vinyl acetate is polymerized as to yield polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). 80% of vinyl acetate production is for this purpose. Other monomers are used to prepare copolymers such as EVA, PVCA. It is difficult to control the reaction due to instability of radicals.
While polyvinyl acetate is used in dyes, glues, paper coatings and textile processes, polyvinyl alcohol is used in glues, packings and warping dimentions.
VAM is used for producing polyvinyl butyral which is used in laminated safety glass production which are used in automobiles and buildings. It is also used in ethylene vinyl acetate resin, packing film, heavy duty bags, extrusion coatings, wire and cable covers, hot melt glues and cross linked foams. It is also used as ethylene alcohol resins in gas barriers and barrier coats for automobile tanks.
Safety Measures and Toxic Values Studies suggest that vinyl acetate has low toxicity. Still, if it is inhaled in high concentrations, it may cause problems in upper airways. It is irritant for eyes and skin.