Summary. This is a naming guide. PVA is used for both polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), which is the most common source of confusion on enquiries. Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) is polymerised into PVAc, PVAc can be converted into PVOH and, from that, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), and VAM can be copolymerised with ethylene to make EVA and related vinyl acetate-ethylene products. The VAM-related uses on our safety data sheet are PVA, PVOH, PVB, adhesives, coatings, paints and textile treatments. The chemistry here is general knowledge unless tied to a named SPC document.
Buyers rarely ask for vinyl acetate monomer because they want the monomer. They want what it becomes: a wood glue, an emulsion binder, a hot-melt, a film resin. Getting from the monomer to the product involves several polymers with near-identical names, and the abbreviations are used loosely in the trade. This guide sorts out the names and what each means for the order you place. The monomer itself, with its specification and documents, is on our vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) page; if you are looking for sourcing and packaging, see the VAM buyer guide, and for receiving checks see our guide to receiving VAM and reading the CoA.
The family tree in one table
| Name | Common abbreviation | Made from | Typical form | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl acetate monomer | VAM | Acetic acid feedstock (see our acetic acid guide) | Inhibited liquid | Raw material for everything below |
| Polyvinyl acetate | PVAc, often written PVA | Polymerising VAM | Water-based emulsion; solid resin | Wood and paper adhesives, emulsion paints, binders |
| Polyvinyl alcohol | PVOH, often written PVA | Hydrolysing polyvinyl acetate | Powder or granules, dissolved in water | Textile and paper sizing, film, adhesive component |
| Polyvinyl butyral | PVB | Reacting polyvinyl alcohol with butyraldehyde | Resin or sheet | Laminated glass interlayers, coatings |
| Ethylene-vinyl acetate | EVA | Copolymerising ethylene and VAM | Pellets, films, hot-melt | Footwear, films, hot-melt adhesives |
| Vinyl acetate-ethylene emulsion | VAE | Emulsion copolymer of VAM and ethylene | Water-based emulsion | Adhesives, paints and coatings, nonwoven binders |
Source: general knowledge, not an SPC specification. The SPC safety data sheet (Rev 3.1, section 1) lists the intended use of VAM as the manufacture of PVA, PVOH, PVB, adhesives, coatings, paints and textile treatments; the SPC product page lists EVA copolymers.
Which of these a VAM buyer actually makes is the buyer business. What matters to us as a supplier is that every route begins with the same monomer, supplied inhibited, and that it is polymerised under the buyer control. Our safety data sheet states the intended use as industrial and professional use.
PVA: polyvinyl acetate or polyvinyl alcohol?
General knowledge: the letters PVA are used for two different polymers. In adhesives and paints, PVA normally means polyvinyl acetate, the emulsion polymer. In textile sizing, films and many technical contexts, PVA normally means polyvinyl alcohol. They are chemically related, because polyvinyl alcohol is made from polyvinyl acetate by replacing the acetate groups with hydroxyl groups, but they behave differently: polyvinyl acetate is the film-forming adhesive binder, while polyvinyl alcohol is the water-soluble resin. An enquiry that says only PVA can describe either.
For a VAM supplier the practical point is that neither polymer is bought as VAM. If you are unsure which material you need, tell us your end product and we will say whether VAM is the relevant raw material.
EVA, VAE and where ethylene comes in
General knowledge: copolymerising VAM with ethylene produces polymers whose properties move with the vinyl acetate content. A low vinyl acetate content gives a polymer closer to polyethylene; a higher content gives a softer, more flexible, more adhesive material. Solid copolymers of this kind are sold as EVA; emulsion copolymers are sold as VAE. Our product page lists EVA copolymers among the uses of VAM. VAE emulsions and nonwoven binders are general-knowledge applications mentioned here only to complete the picture. Ethylene is not something we supply as part of this range, so a copolymer plant needs its own ethylene arrangements.
How to choose the right polymer route
The question we hear most often is not which polymer is best, but which raw material the plant should buy. The table below sets out, in general terms, how the end product points to the starting material. It is a framing aid for the enquiry, not a process recommendation; the polymerisation recipe, initiator system, reactor and quality targets are the buyer process decisions.
| If your end product is | The polymer family is usually | The monomer route starts with |
|---|---|---|
| White glue, wood adhesive, emulsion paint binder | Polyvinyl acetate emulsion | VAM, polymerised in water |
| Water-soluble film, textile or paper sizing | Polyvinyl alcohol | VAM, via polyvinyl acetate then hydrolysis |
| Laminated glass interlayer or coating resin | Polyvinyl butyral | VAM, via polyvinyl alcohol |
| Footwear foam, film, hot-melt | EVA | VAM copolymerised with ethylene |
| Flexible emulsion binder for coatings or nonwovens | VAE | VAM copolymerised with ethylene in emulsion |
Source: general knowledge, not an SPC specification.
Three practical points follow. First, if you are buying ready-made polymer, you are not buying VAM, and the enquiry belongs with a polymer supplier. Second, if you are making emulsions, the monomer purity and the inhibitor level on the batch certificate matter to your reactor recipe, so share your requirement before ordering. Third, the monomer is a hazardous, polymerisable liquid, so storage and handling approvals at your site decide whether bulk or drums suits you.
Where VAM sits next to other monomers
VAM is one of several monomers used in water-based coatings and adhesives. On the SPC site, butyl acrylate monomer, styrene monomer and acrylic acid are listed as related monomers to VAM. General knowledge: acrylic monomers and vinyl acetate are often used in the same families of emulsion binders, and the choice between them depends on the binder target properties. That is a formulator decision, not a supplier decision; we supply the monomer and the documents.
VAM and the acetate solvents
VAM is sometimes searched for alongside acetates such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate because the names are similar. General knowledge: those esters are typically used as solvents in coatings and inks, while VAM is typically used as a monomer. VAM is classified as a highly flammable liquid and is supplied with an inhibitor, so do not substitute one for another and do not store VAM as if it were an ordinary solvent.
What to specify when you buy VAM
| Item | What we list | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | Hydroquinone-inhibited, fibre grade | Technical data sheet SPC-TDS-MON-001 |
| Purity | 99.9% min (m/m) | Technical data sheet |
| Impurities controlled | Acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, benzene, acidity, water, colour | Technical data sheet, manufacturer certificate of analysis |
| Identifiers | CAS 108-05-4, EC 203-545-4, HSN 2915 32 00, UN 1301 Class 3 | Safety data sheet, product page |
| Pack | Bulk ISO tanker or drums | Technical data sheet |
Source: TDS SPC-TDS-MON-001; SDS Rev 3.1 sections 1 and 14; SPC product specification.
The VAM we supply is an industrial grade; it is not a food or pharma grade, and the safety data sheet restricts it to industrial and professional use. If your polymer ends up in a regulated end use, that is a matter for your own qualification, and the safety data sheet asks you to confirm suitability for the final application.
Frequently asked questions
Is polyvinyl acetate the same as polyvinyl alcohol?
No. Polyvinyl acetate is made by polymerising vinyl acetate monomer; polyvinyl alcohol is normally made from polyvinyl acetate by hydrolysis. Both are often abbreviated PVA, so state the full name on an order.
Do you supply PVA?
This guide is about the monomer. We supply vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). For any other material, send the product name and use and we will tell you whether we can supply it.
Is EVA made from VAM?
Yes, in general: EVA is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate monomer. Our product page lists EVA copolymers among the uses of VAM.
Enquire about VAM from Chennai
If your plant makes emulsions, adhesives or paints and needs the monomer, send the quantity, pack (bulk ISO tanker or drums), delivery location and use by call or WhatsApp on +91 86087 80096, or through the contact page. We quote within 4 working hours, and a batch Certificate of Analysis is supplied with every delivery. Supreme Petro Chemicals is an importer and bulk distributor in Chennai; we supply chemicals for polymer and adhesive manufacturers and do not manufacture them. Specification, documents and identifiers are on the VAM product page.