# Vinyl chloride monomer: Characteristics

A gas at room temperature, shipped under pressure

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/characteristics/

What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.

VCM is a gas at room temperature (boiling point minus 13 C) that is stored and shipped as a pressurised liquid. Purity, especially acetylene, iron and moisture content, controls PVC polymerisation and colour. It is stabilised with inhibitors to prevent peroxide formation.

#### Properties that matter commercially

| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Purity** | at least 99.9% VCM (indicative) | impurities slow polymerisation and discolour PVC | indicative |
| **Acetylene** | low ppm (indicative) | chain-transfer agent that lowers PVC molecular weight | indicative |
| **Boiling point** | minus 13.4 C | requires pressurised storage | standard property |

#### Commercial grades

- Polymerisation-grade VCM
- EDC (merchant chlorine carrier)

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/regulation/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/links/index.md)