Millennium Chemicals is a leading manufacturer and global supplier of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM).
Benefits and Applications
VAM is a chemical building block used to manufacture a wide variety of industrial and consumer products, including polyvinyl acetate used to produce paints, adhesives and coatings for flexible substrates; polyvinyl alcohol used to produce adhesives, coatings and water soluble packaging films; polyvinyl acetals used to produce insulation for magnetic wire, interlayers for safety glass, wash primers and coatings; ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers used to produce flexible films, coatings, adhesives, moldings and insulation; and ethylene vinyl alcohol used to produce gas barrier layers in coextruded packaging.
VAM also is a key raw material for the production of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH or PVA). Approximately 80 percent of all VAM produced in the world is used to make these two chemicals. VAM is also used to make polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) resins.
Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) resins are vinyl acetate containing thermoplastic copolymers used for making emulsion (latex) products. They are produced in both homopolymer and copolymer types and are sold in the form of powders or beads or as latex basestock for compounded emulsions. Major applications include interior and exterior paints, adhesives, paper coatings, and textile treatments.
All polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH or PVA) is manufactured using PVAc as a starting material. PVOH resins are powdered polymers produced by the controlled hydrolysis of PVAc. They are easily dispersed and readily dissolve in water, and are available in both fully hydrolyzed and partially hydrolyzed grades. PVOH resins have excellent film forming and adhesive properties as well as providing good resistance to oil, grease and many solvents. Major applications include use as textile warp sizing, as a protective colloid for PVAc adhesive products, as a polymerization aid in PVC polymerization suspensions, as a sizing for textile and paper products, and in the manufacture of water-soluble films and fibers. Finally, PVOH is a precursor for polyvinyl butyral (PVB) which is used in laminated safety glass in automobiles and buildings.
Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is a random copolymer of vinyl acetate monomer and ethylene. EVA resins are used in the manufacture of packaging film, heavy duty bags, extrusion coating, wire and cable jacketing, hot melt adhesives, and cross-linked foam.
Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) is a hydrolyzed copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate monomer. EVOH resins are used as a gas barrier in multi-layered food and beverage packages, and as a barrier layer in automobile gasoline tanks.
Properties
|
Specification* |
Value |
Units |
|
Vinyl Acetate |
99.90 |
weight %, minimum |
|
Specific Gravity @ 20/20°C |
0.9335-0.9345 |
|
|
Water |
0.03 |
weight %, maximum |
|
Distillation Range |
72.3-73.0 |
°C |
|
Acidity as Acetic Acid |
0.005 |
weight %, maximum |
|
Acetaldehyde |
0.010 |
weight %, maximum |
|
Hydroquinone |
3-5 |
pprn** |
|
Color, APHA |
5 |
maximum |
|
Appearance |
Clear and free of suspended matter |
|
*Test methods available upon request.
**or as specified by customer
Transportation/Equipment Specifications
Vinyl acetate monomer is available in the following quantities and shipping containers:
| Container |
Approximate Net Weight |
| Tank Truck |
40,000 lbs minimum |
| Tank Car |
180,000 lbs minimum |
Weight per gallon @ 20°C (68°F): 7.772 lbs
Manufacturing Facilities
With a combination of manufacturing facilities in the United States and an international storage and distribution network, Millennium serves VAM customers in
- North America,
- Europe,
- Asia,
- the Middle East, and
- South and Central America
Combined with Millennium's distribution of VAM produced by DuPont, our capacity makes Millennium the world's second-largest marketer of merchant vinyl acetate monomer.
Methanol, acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer products are produced in an integrated chain of manufacturing plants. This integration provides a major logistical advantage at the La Porte, Texas site.
The manufacturing process at the La Porte site starts with natural gas (methane) and pure oxygen. These chemical compounds react continuously in partial oxidation units to produce synthesis gas, a mixture of predominantly carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A portion of the synthesis gas is separated into purity carbon monoxide and a hydrogen-rich stream. This hydrogen and the remaining synthesis gas are fed as raw materials to the methanol unit. The purity carbon monoxide and purified methanol are used to make acetic acid. Finally, acetic acid, along with purchased ethylene and oxygen, is used to produce vinyl acetate monomer.
The carbon monoxide, hydrogen and synthesis gas are supplied on-site by Linde Gas Incorporated. Millennium Chemicals and Linde Gas Incorporated are partners in the ownership of the methanol unit.