Vinyl Acetate Council Logo

What is Vinyl Acetate
Vinyl Acetate Safe Handling Guide
Health and Environment
Global Update
Studies and Reports
Links
About Vac/Membership

Members Only
Feedback/Contact Us
Home
What is Vinyl Acetate Print this page

What is Vinyl Acetate?

Vinyl acetate is a versatile and economically important chemical with a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications.

Synonyms: Vinyl Ester Acetic Acid
Ethenyl Ester
Vinyl Acetate Monomer
VAM
Ethenyl Acetate
1-Acetoxyethylene
CAS Name Ethenyl Ester
CAS Registry Number 108-05-4
Chemical Formula CH3COOCH=CH2
Chemical Structure

Uses

Vinyl acetate monomer is a chemical building block used to manufacture a wide variety of polymers including: polyvinyl acetate; polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl acetals; ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers; and, ethylene vinyl alcohol. These polymers are commonly used in the production of:

  • plastics
  • films
  • lacquers
  • laminating adhesives
  • elastomers
  • inks
  • water-based emulsion paints
  • finishing and impregnation materials
  • paper coatings
  • floor tiling
  • safety glass
  • building construction
  • acrylic fibers
  • glue
  • Additional Information

    General Properties of Vinyl Acetate, including physico-chemical data

    Health and Environmental Effects

    Last Updated – 10/1/03