Polyvinyl Acetate and Polyvinyl Alcohol

Published November 1970

This report is an evaluation of selected processes for the production of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) from vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). Specifically the processes evaluated are:

• Polyvinyl acetate by emulsion polymerization
• Polyvinyl acetate by suspension polymerization
• Polyvinyl acetate by solution polymerization
• Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers by emulsion polymerization
• Polyvinyl alcohol by hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate.

Each of the three PVAc processes was evaluated at a plant capacity of 50 million lb/yr based on dry resin, The products respectively from each process are an emulsion suitable for paints or adhesives, beads for formulation into adhesives or other products, and pellets also for formulation into similar products. The ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) process is also based on a plant capacity of 50 million lb/yr (dry resin basis) of an emulsion suitable for plant formulations. The EVA produced contains less than 50 wt% ethylene and should not be confused with a variety of EVA copolymers of high ethylene (>50 wt%) also marketed. These high ethylene copolymers require an entirely different technology.

The PVAL process is evaluated at a plant capacity of 26.3 million lb/yr of completely (> 99%) hydrolyzed PVAL as a granular solid. This capacity is equivalent to 50 million lb/yr of PVAc.

This report was not extended to cover PVAL fibers or films because PVAL is marketed as a granular solid for formulation into many products, including fibers. In addition, PVAL fibers are of little commercial interest except in Japan.

Other PEP Related Reports:

• Polyvinyl Acetate and Polyvinyl Alcohol 57A