Published January 1996
Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) is used primarily to produce polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) homopolymers and copolymers. This report presents preliminary process designs and economics for VAM manufacture by three processes, as well as for VAM emulsion polymerization. The three VAM processes evaluated are the oxy-acetylation of ethylene, the reaction of acetic acid with acetylene, and a process based on synthesis gas (syngas). An emulsion polymerization process for the preparation of vinyl acetate homopolymers and copolymers is also evaluated.
This supplementary report reviews the market conditions and important technical progress made regarding VAM since PEP Report 15A Vinyl Acetate was issued in 1972. We include a description of the major VAM and PVAc markets and a list of the world's VAM producers, along with their estimated plant capacities. This report will be useful to producers and purchasers of VAM emulsions, as well as to producers of VAM itself.
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