Acrylonitrile is an important monomer for synthetic fibers, rubbers and resins. Polyacrylonitrile fiber, also known as acrylic fiber, is polymerized by acrylonitrile. Because its properties are very similar to wool, polyacrylonitrile fiber is also called synthetic wool.Acrylonitrile would be used to copolymerize with butadiene to produce nitrile rubber, which has the good resistance properties of oil, cold and abrasion, as well as electrical insulation properties. Its performance is stable under the corrosion conditions of most chemical solvents, sunlight and heat.

Copolymerization of acrylonitrile with butadiene and styrene can produce ABS resin, which has the advantages of light, and good cold and impact resistance properties.

Hydrolysis of acrylonitrile can produce acrylamide and acrylic acid and its esters, which are important organic chemical raw materials.

Acrylonitrile can also be electrolytically hydrogenated to produce adiponitrile,and then adiponitrile can be further hydrogenated to produce hexamethylene diamine, which is the raw material for nylon 66.

Acrylonitrile can also be used to produce water repellents, adhesives, cereal fumigant, as well as other organic compounds in pharmaceutical industries. In addition, acrylonitrile is also an aprotic polar solvent and used as raw material for oilfield mud auxiliaries PAC142.

Furthermore, acrylonitrile is an important monomer for synthetic fibers, rubbers and resins, and it is also an intermediate for insecticides Chlorfenapyr.