ACRYLONITRILE.

Also called vinyl cyanide and propene nitrile. A liquid of composition CH ₂:CHCN, boiling at 172 F (78 C), used in insecticides and for producing plastics and other chemicals. It is made by the addition of hydrocyanic acid to acetylene, by using propylene as the starter and reacting with ammonia, or from petroleum. Acrylonitrile fiber, originally developed in Germany as a textile staple fiber and as a monofilament for screens and weaving, and known as Redon, has good dimensional stability and high dielectric strength and is resistant to water and to solvents. The polymerized acrylonitrile has a molecular structure that can be oriented by drawing to give fibers of high strength. Orlon, of Du Pont, is a polymerized acrylonitrile fiber. It is nearly as strong as nylon and has a softer feel. It can be crimped to facilitate spinning with wool. It is used for clothing textiles and for filter fabrics. Dynel, of Union Carbide Corp., is an acrylonitrile-vinyl chloride copolymer staple fiber. It produces textiles with a warmth and feel like those of wool. It has good strength, is resilient, dyes easily, and is mothproof. Verel, of Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., is a similar acrylic fiber produced from acrylonitrile and vinylidene chloride, and Creslan, of American Cyanamid Co., called Exlan in Japan, is an acrylic fiber. Acrilan, of Monsanto, is a similar textile fiber and is an acrylonitrile-vinyl acetate copolymer. Acrylonitrile-styrene is a copolymer for...