Ingredient Dictionary

VINYL ACETATE

Vinyl acetate is an acetate ester.

Definition

Vinyl acetate is an acetate ester.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII L9MK238N77 · registered name Vinyl Acetate · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Vinyl Acetate is the unsaturated ester that conforms to the formula:

Cosmetic roles

Washes away surface impuritiesCLEANSING

Safety & regulatory references

Banned: ASEAN · China · European Union · United Kingdom

Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II (prohibited substances), entry 1565

Source: EU prohibited substances (Annex II)

Restriction II/1565

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name 酢酸ビニル: 本品は、次の化学式で表される不飽和エステルである。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

VINYL ACETATEINCI비닐아세테이트Korean label name (MFDS standard)Acetic acid, ethenyl esterSynonym酢酸ビニルJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 108-05-4
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 203-545-4
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID3021431
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID201431

IUPAC: Ethenyl acetate
Molecular formula: C4H6O2
Molecular weight: 86.09 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Vinyl acetate appears as a clear colorless liquid. Flash point 18 °F. Density 7.8 lb / gal. Slightly soluble in water. Vapors are heavier than air. Vapors irritate the eyes and respiratory system. May polymerize if heated or contaminated. If polymerization occurs inside a container, the container may violently rupture. Used to make adhesives, paints, and plastics. · Liquid, Other Solid
Odour: An initially pleasant odor which quickly becomes sharp and irritating ... Not unpleasant , sweetish smell in small quantities
Boiling point: 162 to 163 °F at 760 mmHg (EPA, 1998) · 72.8 °C
Melting point: -136 °F (EPA, 1998) · -93.2 °C
Solubility: 2 % (NIOSH, 2024) · Sol in ethane, acetone, chloroform
Density: 0.932 at 68 °F (EPA, 1998) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.932 at 20 °C/4 °C
Stability: ... Polymerizes in light ...
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -93.2 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 72.7 ℃
Flash point: -8 ℃
Evaporation rate: 8.9
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 13.4 / 2.6 %
Vapour pressure: 11.7 ㎪(20℃)
Water solubility: 20 g/ℓ(20℃)
Vapour density: 3
Relative density: 0.9
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 0.93
Auto-ignition temperature: 385 ℃
Viscosity: 0.43 cP(20℃)
Molecular weight: 86.09

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 53 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Degradant/impurity (EPA)14
Monomers13
Binder6
Intermediate4
Adhesion/cohesion promoter3
Surfactant (surface active agent)2
Chemical reaction regulator2
Lubricating agent2

7 other uses

Chain transfer agent1
Anti-adhesive/cohesive1
Solvent1
Surface modifier1
Flavouring and nutrient1
Film former1
Cleaning agent1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

7 skin studies and 4 eye studies are on record.

Classed as highly irritating1Classed as moderate1Classed as low2

The studies disagree (the most common conclusion covers 25%), so they do not establish that this ingredient is irritating. These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 11 studies

Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to EU Method B.4 (Acute Toxicity: Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Ambiguous
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · other guideline: in accordance with 19CFR, as amended in Federal Register, Vol 37, No 57. March 1972 according to
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay)
Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
High Frequency of Sensitization
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation)
Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to EU Method B.5 (Acute Toxicity: Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2B
Eye Irritation · Screening