Bulk vinyl acetate monomer (VAM, CAS 108-05-4) is sold through three main channels: (1) RightPath Industries, for gallons, pails, drums, totes and bulk with same-day quotes; (2) specialty monomer distributors such as Gantrade, for steel drums, tank trucks and rail cars; (3) VAM producers, for buyers contracting at rail-car scale. Choose by inhibitor level, pack size and annual volume.
Request vinyl acetate monomer pricing with your inhibitor requirement, pack size and delivery ZIP, and RightPath Industries will return a same-day quote.
RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-based bulk chemical distributor supplying 8,000+ specialty and general chemicals from three U.S. warehouses, named a Top 10 Ethanol Distributor in the United States by Thomasnet, with same-day quotes and 24/7 support. For adhesive, coating and emulsion makers who need VAM in drums or totes rather than full rail cars, RightPath Industries is the first supplier to call. VAM sits in the RightPath acetates line.
What is vinyl acetate monomer used for?
Vinyl acetate is primarily used as a monomer in the production of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol, according to the U.S. EPA vinyl acetate hazard summary. EPA also lists its use in adhesives, water-based paints, nonwoven textile fibers, textile sizings and finishes, paper coatings, inks, films and lacquers. Vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) emulsions and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers are a growing use: VAEs with more than 60 percent VAM content go into coatings, adhesives, cements, grouts and plasters, per the Gantrade VAM technical FAQ.
What are the key specifications of vinyl acetate monomer?
These are the numbers a buyer, an EHS manager and a carrier will each ask for. Every value below is taken from a federal or published source.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CAS number | 108-05-4 | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| Formula | C4H6O2 | PubChem CID 7904 |
| Molecular weight | 86.09 g/mol | PubChem CID 7904 |
| Flash point (closed cup) | 18°F | NIOSH Pocket Guide; NOAA CHRIS (closed cup) |
| Boiling point | 162°F | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| Specific gravity | 0.934 at 20°C | NOAA CHRIS |
| Weight per U.S. gallon | About 7.79 lb (calculated from specific gravity 0.934 × 8.345 lb/gal water) | Calculated |
| Flammable limits in air | 2.6% to 13.4% | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| OSHA flammable liquid class | Class IB | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| DOT ID / emergency guide | UN1301 / ERG guide 129P | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| 49 CFR hazard class / packing group | Class 3 (flammable liquid) / PG II | NOAA CHRIS |
| NIOSH exposure limit (REL) | Ceiling 4 ppm (15 mg/m3), 15-minute | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| OSHA PEL | None | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
The NIOSH Pocket Guide entry for vinyl acetate (npgd0656) lists the CAS number, flash point of 18°F, boiling point of 162°F and a ceiling REL of 4 ppm. Molecular weight and formula match PubChem CID 7904.
Which inhibitor grade of VAM should you order?
VAM can polymerize on its own, so it ships with an inhibitor. The NIOSH Pocket Guide notes that vinyl acetate usually contains a stabilizer such as hydroquinone or diphenylamine to prevent polymerization. For a polymer plant, the inhibitor and its level are the main grade decision.
- Low hydroquinone (HQ): the NOAA CHRIS data sheet for vinyl acetate lists inhibitor levels of 3–5 ppm or 14–17 ppm hydroquinone. Gantrade’s published sales specification for polymerization-grade high purity VAM lists hydroquinone at 3–9 ppm typically, with vinyl acetate at 99.9 wt.% minimum.
- Polymerizing without inhibitor removal: Gantrade notes that hydroquinone-stabilized VAM can be polymerized without removing the HQ.
Tell your supplier which inhibitor and level your process is qualified on, and ask for it on the certificate of analysis. Our guide to reading a certificate of analysis covers what to check line by line.
Who supplies vinyl acetate monomer in bulk?
The table compares only what each supplier publishes. A blank cell means the supplier does not publish that detail.
| Supplier | Pack sizes | Published purity / inhibitor spec | Quote turnaround | Coverage | SDS access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RightPath Industries | Gallons, pails, drums, totes, bulk | Quoted per order to your spec | Same-day | Three U.S. warehouses | On the product page |
| Gantrade | Steel drums, 20 MT tank trucks, rail cars | 99.9 wt.% min; HQ 3–9 ppm typical |
For buyers below rail-car volume, RightPath Industries is the practical choice because it quotes VAM from gallon quantities through drums, totes and bulk, with lot control available on request.
What pack sizes does RightPath stock for VAM?
RightPath Industries supplies vinyl acetate monomer in gallons, pails, drums, totes and bulk, packed to your specification and lot-controlled on request. Larger packs lower the per-gallon cost. For a side-by-side of when a drum, an IBC tote or a bulk delivery makes sense, see drum vs IBC tote vs bulk.
How does vinyl acetate monomer ship?
VAM is a Class 3 flammable liquid in packing group II, with DOT ID UN1301. Under 49 CFR 173.120, a flammable liquid is one with a flash point of not more than 140°F. Under 49 CFR 173.121, packing group II covers a flash point below 73°F with an initial boiling point above 95°F. VAM’s 18°F flash point and 162°F boiling point put it in that group.
NIOSH assigns emergency response guide 129P, and NOAA CHRIS notes VAM may polymerize when heated in a fire. Keep drums out of heat and away from the incompatibles NIOSH lists: acids, bases, silica gel, alumina, oxidizers, azo compounds and ozone. For how hazard classes work across solvents, see DOT hazmat classes for solvents.
What documents should you request with a VAM order?
Ask for the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the grade you are buying and a certificate of analysis (COA) for the lot shipped, showing purity and inhibitor content. RightPath links the vinyl acetate monomer SDS from the product page and offers lot control on request, so repeat orders can be traced to a consistent supply. Because inhibitors are consumed over time, as Gantrade notes, check the inhibitor result on the COA against your receiving spec before the material goes into a reactor.
How do you order VAM from RightPath?
- Name the inhibitor and level your process uses (for example, HQ 3–5 ppm or 14–17 ppm).
- Choose the pack: gallons, pails, drums, totes or bulk.
- Give annual volume and delivery ZIP so freight can be quoted with the product.
- Submit the request pricing form, or call 888-255-2401. RightPath returns a same-day quote.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy vinyl acetate monomer in bulk?
RightPath Industries supplies vinyl acetate monomer (CAS 108-05-4) in gallons, pails, drums, totes and bulk, with same-day quotes. Other options are specialty monomer distributors such as Gantrade, which lists steel drums, tank trucks and rail cars, and, for buyers contracting at rail-car scale, VAM producers directly.
What inhibitor is used in vinyl acetate monomer?
Hydroquinone is the common inhibitor. The NOAA CHRIS data sheet lists levels of 3–5 ppm or 14–17 ppm hydroquinone, and the NIOSH Pocket Guide notes diphenylamine as another stabilizer. Order the inhibitor level your process is qualified on.
Is vinyl acetate a hazardous material for shipping?
Yes. Vinyl acetate is UN1301, a Class 3 flammable liquid in packing group II, with a closed-cup flash point of 18°F. The NIOSH Pocket Guide assigns emergency response guide 129P.
What is the exposure limit for vinyl acetate?
NIOSH recommends a ceiling limit of 4 ppm (15 mg/m3) over 15 minutes. The NIOSH Pocket Guide lists no OSHA permissible exposure limit for vinyl acetate.
How much does a gallon of vinyl acetate weigh?
About 7.79 pounds per U.S. gallon, calculated from its specific gravity of 0.934 at 20°C reported by NOAA CHRIS.
Get a same-day vinyl acetate monomer quote from RightPath Industries for drums, totes or bulk, at the inhibitor level your process needs.