Cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose esters for films, fibres, moulded parts and coatings CA, CAB
[C6H7O2(OH)3-m(OOCCH3)m]n, m = 0 to 3 (cellulose acetate) · CAS 9004-35-7
Also known as CAS 9004-35-7, CAS 9004-36-8, Cellulose acetate butyrate, Cellulose acetate
Cellulose acetate (CA) is cellulose with part of its hydroxyl groups converted to acetate esters.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Stiffness and heat at low plasticizer
86 °C
Glass transition
193 °C
Room-temperature toughness
117 to 257 J/m
Density
1.16 to 1.29
Recipe, share of the weight
- C6 ring not statedAnhydroglucose unit
- COCH3 not statedAcetyl group
- COC3H7 not statedButyryl group (CAB only)
Best for
Injection-moulded and extruded parts that carry a load up to about 85 to 95 °C, with low plasticizer grades giving the highest heat deflection and stiffness, and CAB where a lower glass transition and an outdoor-stabilised formulation are wanted.
Weakest at
Heat above about 90 °C under load, water uptake of 1.2 to 2.6 % by 24 h immersion, and UV: outdoor use needs UV inhibitors, and the Eastman weathering note says deterioration depends on humidity and temperature as well as radiation.
Risk at a glance
- People None found. Low acute hazard, but a combustible dust
- If it fails High. Dust explosion during handling of powder or pellets
- Corrosion Moderate. Outdoor UV breaks the chains of cellulose esters; Eastman says its best outdoor butyrate formulations should remain useful for at least five years outdoors.
Quick facts: CA, CAB
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.26 to 1.31 g/cm³ | 3 sourced values across conditions |
| Yield strength | 17.2 to 52.1 MPa | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 20 to 55.2 MPa | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17 to 0.33 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 11 to 17 10^-5 mm/mm·°C | 1 sourced value |
| Specific heat | 1,260 to 1,670 J/(kg·K) | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB)?
Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB) has a density of 1.26 to 1.31 g/cm³. The range covers 3 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the thermal conductivity of Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB)?
Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB) has a thermal conductivity of 0.17 to 0.33 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB)?
Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB) has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 11 to 17 10^-5 mm/mm·°C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the yield strength of Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB)?
Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB) has a yield strength of 17.2 to 52.1 MPa. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the tensile strength of Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB)?
Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB) has a tensile strength of 20 to 55.2 MPa. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What are the other names and codes for Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB)?
Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB) is also written as CAS 9004-35-7, CAS 9004-36-8, Cellulose acetate butyrate, Cellulose acetate. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.
What is Cellulose acetate (CA) (CA, CAB) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Photographic and motion-picture film base; Injection-moulded and extruded parts (Tenite butyrate).
Why it exists
Cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate are cellulose esters made from wood pulp or cotton linters. They can be moulded, extruded, spun into fibre, cast as film and used as coatings, according to Wikipedia and the Eastman datasheets. The butyrate in CAB lowers the glass transition: the Chalmers films fall from 193 °C for CA to 109 °C for the highest-butyryl CAB. Eastman's selector charts show that plasticizer level sets the trade-off between heat resistance and toughness.
Where it's used
Photographic and motion-picture film base
Cellulose acetate was the film base for photography and motion-picture negatives, and it was also used for magnetic tape until PET replaced it in 1956 (Wikipedia).
Injection-moulded and extruded parts
Eastman says Tenite butyrate has been used in an array of injection moulding and extrusion applications, and is one of the most widely used cellulosic thermoplastics.
Recipe
[C6H7O2(OH)3-m(OOCCH3)m]n, m = 0 to 3 (cellulose acetate); CAB adds butyrate (OOCC3H7) ester groups on part of the hydroxyl positions
Cellulose acetate is cellulose with part of its hydroxyl groups converted to acetate esters. Cellulose acetate butyrate also carries butyrate esters. Wood pulp or cotton linters are acetylated, partly hydrolysed and precipitated as flakes, which are dissolved in acetone to make fibre or moulding resin (Wikipedia).
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Anhydroglucose unit C6 ring | not stated | The cellulose backbone repeat unit. Each unit has three hydroxyl groups that can be esterified. |
| Acetyl group COCH3 | not stated | Esterifies the hydroxyl groups; a diacetate carries about two acetyl groups for every three hydroxyls (Wikipedia). |
| Butyryl group (CAB only) COC3H7 | not stated | Replaces part of the acetyl groups in CAB. The CAB-381-0.1 supplier sheet gives butyryl 35.5 to 41.5 %, acetyl 10 to 18 %, hydroxyl 0 to 3 %. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Stiffness and heat at low plasticizer
86 °C
measured
The 3 % plasticizer CAB has a heat deflection of 86 °C at 1.82 MPa and 96 °C at 0.455 MPa, after conditioning for 4 h at 70 °C. Its flexural modulus is 1862 MPa.
Glass transition
193 °C
measured
The Chalmers hot-pressed CA film has a glass transition of 193 °C. The highest-butyryl CAB film falls to 109 °C.
Room-temperature toughness
117 to 257 J/m
measured
The Formula 105 cellulose acetate has a notched Izod of 117 to 257 J/m at 23 °C across 19 to 37 % plasticizer. At -40 °C it falls to 37 to 59 J/m.
Density
1.16 to 1.29
measured
Specific gravity runs from 1.16 to 1.21 for CAB and from 1.26 to 1.29 for CA, across the plasticizer ranges printed in the Eastman charts.
How it compares
CA and CAB are cellulose esters made from wood pulp or cotton linters. PLA is a polyester made from lactic acid, which is made by fermenting plant sugars (see its own profile), so the two are both bio-based but differ in chemistry. CA has a glass transition of 193 °C in the Chalmers film and CAB is lower, while the heat deflection of both depends on plasticizer level. Pick CA or CAB where the cellulose ester's heat and stiffness range fits, and PLA where a polyester is needed.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | CA, CAB | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||
| Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 52 °C13 | no data |
| Heat deflection temperature at 0.455 MPa, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 68 °C14 | no data |
| Weight loss on heating, 72 h at 80 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 0.15 %17 | no data |
| Specific heat at 23 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB | 1.26 kJ/kg·K18 | no data |
| Thermal conductivity, Tenite Butyrate CAB | 0.17 W/m·K19 | no data |
| Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 50 °C31 | no data |
| Heat deflection temperature at 0.455 MPa, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 65 °C32 | no data |
| Weight loss on heating, 72 h at 80 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 0.3 %35 | no data |
| Physical and electrical | ||
| Density, cellulose acetate (general) | 1.26 g/cm³1 | 1.291 g/cm³ |
| Specific gravity, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 1.26 -2 | 1.291 g/cm³ |
| Specific gravity, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 1.16 -3 | 1.291 g/cm³ |
| Temperature behavior | ||
| Glass transition temperature, cellulose acetate (hot-melt pressed film) | 193 °C4 | 180 °C |
| Glass transition temperature, CAB III (hot-melt pressed film, highest butyryl content studied) | 109 °C5 | 180 °C |
| Vicat softening temperature, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 88 °C15 | no data |
| Vicat softening temperature, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 90 °C33 | no data |
| Other measurements | ||
| Tensile stress at yield, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 17.2 MPa6 | no data |
| Tensile stress at break, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 20 MPa7 | no data |
| Elongation at break, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 50 %8 | no data |
| Flexural modulus, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 827 MPa9 | no data |
| Flexural yield strength, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 21.4 MPa10 | no data |
| Notched Izod impact at 23 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 139 J/m11 | no data |
| Notched Izod impact at -40 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 80 J/m12 | no data |
| Water absorption, 24 h immersion, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | 1.2 %16 | no data |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, Tenite Butyrate CAB | 11 10^-5 mm/mm·°C20 | no data |
| Dielectric strength, Tenite Butyrate CAB | 11.8 kV/mm21 | 669 kv/cm |
| Dielectric constant at 1 MHz, Tenite Butyrate CAB | 3.3 -22 | no data |
| Refractive index, Tenite Butyrate CAB | 1.46 -23 | 1.475 - |
| Tensile stress at yield, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 19.3 MPa24 | no data |
| Tensile stress at break, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 24.1 MPa25 | no data |
| Elongation at break, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 20 %26 | no data |
| Flexural modulus, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 1034 MPa27 | no data |
| Flexural yield strength, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 27.6 MPa28 | no data |
| Notched Izod impact at 23 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 117 J/m29 | no data |
| Notched Izod impact at -40 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 37 J/m30 | no data |
| Water absorption, 24 h immersion, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | 2.3 %34 | no data |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Moulded and extruded parts that must hold shape to about 85 to 95 °C under load, from low-plasticizer grades.
- Films, fibres and coatings, the forms that the Wikipedia article's uses section names.
- Outdoor parts with UV inhibitors, where Eastman expects five years of service.
Watch out for
- Water uptake of 1.2 to 2.6 % by 24 h immersion, which changes stiffness and heat resistance.
- Low-temperature impact: notched Izod falls to 37 to 59 J/m at -40 °C for the Formula 105 grades.
- Dust explosion and static hazards in powder handling, per the Eastman CAB SDS.
CA and CAB are mature cellulose esters with a usable heat range and good stiffness at low plasticizer. Their weak points are water uptake, UV without stabilisers, and dust and static in handling. No space flight data were found, so they cannot be called space-qualified.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| CAS | 9004-35-7, 9004-36-8 |
| Name | Cellulose acetate butyrate, Cellulose acetate |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density, cellulose acetate (general) | Range printed in the Chemical and physical properties section of the Wikipedia article on cellulose acetate, as "between 1.26 and 1.31 g/cm³" | grade cellulose acetate, general (no grade or plasticizer given)temperature not printed | — |
| 2 | Specific gravity, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Specific gravity, D792, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart; the datasheet prints no unit, so the value is dimensionless | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D792temperature 23 °C | — |
| 3 | Specific gravity, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Specific gravity, D792, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart; the datasheet prints no unit, so the value is dimensionless | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D792temperature 23 °C | — |
| 4 | Glass transition temperature, cellulose acetate (hot-melt pressed film) | Printed in the text of section 3.2 as the Tg of the hot-melt pressed CA film (the powder value is 191 °C, in parentheses in Table 3) | form hot-melt pressed film of cellulose acetate, from the Chalmers studytest DSC | — |
| 5 | Glass transition temperature, CAB III (hot-melt pressed film, highest butyryl content studied) | Printed in the text of section 3.2 as the Tg of CABIII films, the end of the CA to CAB series | form hot-melt pressed film of CAB IIItest DSC | — |
| 6 | Tensile stress at yield, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Tensile stress at yield, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D638rate 50 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 7 | Tensile stress at break, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Tensile stress at break, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D638rate 50 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 8 | Elongation at break, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Elongation at break, %, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D638rate 50 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 9 | Flexural modulus, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Flexural modulus, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D790rate 1.27 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 10 | Flexural yield strength, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Flexural yield strength, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D790rate 1.27 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 11 | Notched Izod impact at 23 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at 23 °C across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D256temperature 23 °C | — |
| 12 | Notched Izod impact at -40 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at -40 °C across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D256temperature -40 °C | — |
| 13 | Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Deflection temperature, 1.82 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %load 1.82 MPa (264 psi)test ASTM D648conditioning 4 h at 70 °C | — |
| 14 | Heat deflection temperature at 0.455 MPa, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Deflection temperature, 0.455 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %load 0.455 MPa (66 psi)test ASTM D648conditioning 4 h at 70 °C | — |
| 15 | Vicat softening temperature, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Vicat softening temperature across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D1525conditioning 4 h at 70 °C | — |
| 16 | Water absorption, 24 h immersion, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Water absorption (24 hr immersion), %, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D570exposure 24 h immersion | — |
| 17 | Weight loss on heating, 72 h at 80 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %) | Printed as Weight loss on heating (72 hr @ 80 °C), %, across the plasticizer columns; not a canonical property name, listed in gaps | grade Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576plasticizer 3 to 23 %test ASTM D707exposure 72 h at 80 °C | — |
| 18 | Specific heat at 23 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB | Printed as Specific heat @ 23°C (73°F) (DSC) in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block of the CAB selector chart | temperature 23 °Ctest DSC | — |
| 19 | Thermal conductivity, Tenite Butyrate CAB | Printed as Thermal conductivity (ASTM C177) in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block of the CAB selector chart | test ASTM C177temperature not printed | — |
| 20 | Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, Tenite Butyrate CAB | Printed as 11 to 17 x 10^-5 mm/mm·°C (6 to 9 x 10^-5 in./in.·°F); kept in the printed unit, which is 11 to 17 ppm/K in the canonical unit | test ASTM D696temperature not printed | — |
| 21 | Dielectric strength, Tenite Butyrate CAB | Printed as 11.8 to 18.7 kV/mm (300 to 475 V/mil) in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block | test ASTM D149temperature not printed | — |
| 22 | Dielectric constant at 1 MHz, Tenite Butyrate CAB | Printed as 3.3 to 3.8 in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block | frequency 1 MHztest ASTM D150 | — |
| 23 | Refractive index, Tenite Butyrate CAB | Printed as 1.46 to 1.49 in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block | test ASTM D542temperature not printed | — |
| 24 | Tensile stress at yield, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Tensile stress at yield, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D638rate 50 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 25 | Tensile stress at break, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Tensile stress at break, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D638rate 50 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 26 | Elongation at break, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Elongation at break, %, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D638rate 50 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 27 | Flexural modulus, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Flexural modulus, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D790rate 1.27 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 28 | Flexural yield strength, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Flexural yield strength, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D790rate 1.27 mm/mintemperature 23 °C | — |
| 29 | Notched Izod impact at 23 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at 23 °C across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D256temperature 23 °C | — |
| 30 | Notched Izod impact at -40 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at -40 °C across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D256temperature -40 °C | — |
| 31 | Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Deflection temperature, 1.82 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %load 1.82 MPa (264 psi)test ASTM D648conditioning 4 h at 70 °C | — |
| 32 | Heat deflection temperature at 0.455 MPa, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Deflection temperature, 0.455 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %load 0.455 MPa (66 psi)test ASTM D648conditioning 4 h at 70 °C | — |
| 33 | Vicat softening temperature, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Vicat softening temperature across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D1525conditioning 4 h at 70 °C | — |
| 34 | Water absorption, 24 h immersion, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Water absorption (24 hr immersion), %, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D570exposure 24 h immersion | — |
| 35 | Weight loss on heating, 72 h at 80 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %) | Printed as Weight loss on heating (72 hr @ 80 °C), %, across the plasticizer columns; not a canonical property name, listed in gaps | grade Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilisedplasticizer 19 to 37 %test ASTM D706exposure 72 h at 80 °C | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor UV and sunlight | moderate | Outdoor UV breaks the chains of cellulose esters; Eastman says its best outdoor butyrate formulations should remain useful for at least five years outdoors.1 |
| UV wavelength in sunlight | moderate | Photodegradation of cellulose acetate is driven by UV at 280 nm or shorter.2 |
| Humidity and moisture (24 h immersion) | low | Water absorption of 2.3 to 2.6 % by weight after 24 h immersion for the Formula 105 cellulose acetate, and 1.2 to 1.8 % for CAB.3 |
| Heat before use (72 h at 80 °C) | low | Weight loss on heating after 72 h at 80 °C runs from 0.3 to 6.0 % for Formula 105 and 0.15 to 1.2 % for CAB, rising with plasticizer content.4 |
| Heat in service under load | moderate | Heat deflection under 1.82 MPa is 50 to 87 °C for CA and 52 to 86 °C for CAB across the plasticizer range; the lower-plasticizer grades hold the most heat.5 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outdoor UV and sunlight | Ultraviolet light causes chain scission, and in the presence of oxygen it causes oxidation; infrared warms the plastic and speeds both. Protection comes from UV inhibitors (UVIs) that absorb UV, and from antioxidants against oxidation. Eastman prints the five-year figure for its special outdoor formulations of Tenite butyrate, not for general-purpose grades. | exposure outdoor, continental United States and comparable climatesstabiliser special outdoor formulations with UV inhibitors |
| 2 | UV wavelength in sunlight | The Wikipedia article on cellulose acetate prints the UV photodegradation wavelength as 280 nm or shorter, in its disposal and degradation section. It gives no exposure time or intensity, so this is a wavelength limit, not a service life. | wavelength 280 nm or shorter |
| 3 | Humidity and moisture (24 h immersion) | Water uptake is measured here only as 24 h immersion. The Chalmers study finds that the glass transition of these esters rises with the number of hydroxyl groups, and that water absorption rises with the same hydroxyl content, so less-substituted grades take up more water. | exposure 24 h immersiontest ASTM D570 |
| 4 | Heat before use (72 h at 80 °C) | The printed weight loss rises with plasticizer level in both datasheets, which suggests plasticizer loss. No source gives a strength or colour change after this test. | exposure 72 h at 80 °C |
| 5 | Heat in service under load | After conditioning for 4 h at 70 °C, the heat deflection temperature falls as the plasticizer level rises, so low-plasticizer grades give the highest service temperature and the highest flexural modulus in both datasheets. | load 1.82 MPa (264 psi)test ASTM D648 |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
Cellulose acetate and CAB are not classified as hazardous in the sources read, apart from the combustible-dust statement in the Eastman CAB SDS.
- The resin
- The cellulose acetate SDS gives no GHS hazard data. The Eastman CAB SDS gives no H-codes and classifies the powder as combustible dust (EUH014).
- Dust
- Fine dust in air can form an explosive mixture with an ignition source. Keep dust down and avoid sparks.
- Molten material
- Molten CAB causes burns; the SDS advises cold-water cooling and physician treatment.
If the material burns
Fire data come from the SDS, not from field incidents.
- Fire
- Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or CO2. Do not use a solid water stream, which may spread the fire.
- Decomposition
- Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are the decomposition products named in the SDS. The SDS also warns of static build-up when CAB is added to toluene or xylene.
Handling and service
- Storage
- Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames, prevent static discharge, and keep strong oxidisers apart from CAB.
- Outdoors
- Use a UV-stabilised formulation. Eastman expects its best outdoor butyrate formulations to remain useful for at least five years outdoors.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Softening under load in servicemoderate severity | Service above about 87 °C under 1.82 MPa for the stiffest CA grade, or above about 96 °C under 0.455 MPa for the CAB at 3 % plasticizerThe part deflects under load once the heat deflection temperature is passed; lower plasticizer grades hold the most heat. |
| Dust explosion during handling of powder or pelletshigh severity | Fine CAB dust in air at high concentration with an ignition source, as the Eastman SDS statesPotential dust explosion; the SDS advises no solid water stream and recommends water spray, dry chemical or CO2 for fires. |
| Static ignition during solvent mixinghigh severity | Mixing CAB into nonpolar hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene, which builds static chargeRisk of flash fire or explosion; the SDS advises an inert gas atmosphere when adding the ester to a flammable liquid. |
| Low impact strength at low temperaturemoderate severity | Impact at -40 °C on the Formula 105 cellulose acetate gradesNotched Izod impact falls to 37 to 59 J/m at -40 °C, against 117 to 257 J/m at 23 °C across the same plasticizer range. |
| Loss of properties in outdoor UVmoderate severity | Outdoor exposure without UV inhibitors, under sunlight and humidityChain scission and oxidation; the Eastman weathering note ties deterioration to the cellulose ester, plasticizer, stabiliser, UV wavelength, temperature and humidity. |
Side effects on surrounding parts
| Affects | Effect |
|---|---|
| Operators during moulding and extrusion | Molten CAB can cause burns; the Eastman SDS says burns from molten material need physician treatment and skin should be cooled with cold water. |
| People and equipment near a fire | Decomposition products in a fire are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, per the Eastman SDS; the cellulose acetate SDS also names carbon oxides. |
Handling and storage
- Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces, and take action to prevent static discharge, per the Eastman CAB SDS precautionary statements P210 and P243.
- Keep incompatible strong oxidising agents away; the Eastman SDS lists them as incompatible.
- Dispose of contents and container at an approved facility under applicable regulations (P501).
Mitigations
- Choose a formulation with UV inhibitors for outdoor use; Eastman says its best outdoor butyrate formulations are expected to remain useful for at least five years outdoors.
- Pick the plasticizer level for the heat and stiffness the part needs: the 3 % plasticizer CAB gives a 1.82 MPa heat deflection of 86 °C, against 52 °C at 23 %.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Cellulose feedstock for cellulose acetate and CAB: wood pulp or cotton linters
Wood pulp or cotton linters are pretreated, acetylated, partly hydrolysed, precipitated as flakes, washed and dried before the flakes are dissolved in acetone and spun into fibre (Wikipedia). Eastman describes its cellulose esters as plastics made from wood pulp, a renewable resource.
Global cellulose acetate production
Over 800000 tonnes per year in 2008, per the Wikipedia article (the only production volume found for this polymer).
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: cellulose-acetate
spore_version: '0.2'
family: engineering-polymers
name: Cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose esters for films, fibres, moulded parts and coatings
abbreviation: CA, CAB
role: Cellulose ester thermoplastic for film, fibre, moulded and extruded parts, and coatings
category: polymers
type: cellulosics
summary: |
Cellulose acetate (CA) is cellulose with part of its hydroxyl groups converted to acetate esters. Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) also carries butyrate esters, which lower the glass transition: the Chalmers films fall from 193 °C for CA to 109 °C for the highest-butyryl CAB. Eastman sells Tenite grades of both for injection moulding, extrusion and coatings. Its CAB selector chart prints a specific gravity of 1.16 to 1.21 and a 1.82 MPa heat deflection of 52 to 86 °C across plasticizer levels of 3 to 23 %. Its CA selector chart prints a specific gravity of 1.26 to 1.29 and a 1.82 MPa heat deflection of 50 to 87 °C across plasticizer levels of 19 to 37 %.
best_for: Injection-moulded and extruded parts that carry a load up to about 85 to 95 °C, with low plasticizer grades giving the highest heat deflection and stiffness, and CAB where a lower glass transition and an outdoor-stabilised formulation are wanted.
weakest_at: 'Heat above about 90 °C under load, water uptake of 1.2 to 2.6 % by 24 h immersion, and UV: outdoor use needs UV inhibitors, and the Eastman weathering note says deterioration depends on humidity and temperature as well as radiation.'
identity:
formula: '[C6H7O2(OH)3-m(OOCCH3)m]n, m = 0 to 3 (cellulose acetate); CAB adds butyrate (OOCC3H7) ester groups on part of the hydroxyl positions'
cas: 9004-35-7
designations:
- system: CAS
code: 9004-35-7
source: chemicalbook-ca-sds
where: CAS number field, cellulose acetate page
- system: CAS
code: 9004-36-8
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 03, sole constituent cellulose acetate butyrate, 100 %
- system: Name
code: Cellulose acetate butyrate
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: 'Title line: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate'
- system: Name
code: Cellulose acetate
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: 'Title line: Tenite cellulose acetate, Formula 105'
source: wikipedia-ca
where: Lead paragraph (cellulose acetate, ester of cellulose and acetic acid); Production section; formula from chemicalbook-ca-sds
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- optics-and-cameras
- structures
properties:
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: density
label: Density, cellulose acetate (general)
value: 1.26
value_high: 1.31
unit: g/cm3
conditions:
grade: cellulose acetate, general (no grade or plasticizer given)
temperature: not printed
method: Range printed in the Chemical and physical properties section of the Wikipedia article on cellulose acetate, as "between 1.26 and 1.31 g/cm³"
source: wikipedia-ca
where: Chemical and physical properties section
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: density
label: Specific gravity, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 1.26
value_high: 1.29
unit: '-'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D792
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Specific gravity, D792, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart; the datasheet prints no unit, so the value is dimensionless
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Formula 105 selector chart, Specific gravity row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: density
label: Specific gravity, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 1.16
value_high: 1.21
unit: '-'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D792
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Specific gravity, D792, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart; the datasheet prints no unit, so the value is dimensionless
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Selector chart, Specific gravity row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
label: Glass transition temperature, cellulose acetate (hot-melt pressed film)
value: 193
unit: °C
conditions:
form: hot-melt pressed film of cellulose acetate, from the Chalmers study
test: DSC
method: Printed in the text of section 3.2 as the Tg of the hot-melt pressed CA film (the powder value is 191 °C, in parentheses in Table 3)
source: chalmers-ca-2022
where: Section 3.2, first paragraph on Tg; Table 3
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
label: Glass transition temperature, CAB III (hot-melt pressed film, highest butyryl content studied)
value: 109
unit: °C
conditions:
form: hot-melt pressed film of CAB III
test: DSC
method: Printed in the text of section 3.2 as the Tg of CABIII films, the end of the CA to CAB series
source: chalmers-ca-2022
where: Section 3.2, first paragraph on Tg
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: yield_strength
label: Tensile stress at yield, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 17.2
value_high: 45.5
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D638
rate: 50 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Tensile stress at yield, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Mechanical block, Tensile stress at yield row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile stress at break, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 20
value_high: 53.8
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D638
rate: 50 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Tensile stress at break, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Mechanical block, Tensile stress at break row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation at break, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 50
value_high: 55
unit: '%'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D638
rate: 50 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Elongation at break, %, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Mechanical block, Elongation at break row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: flexural_modulus
label: Flexural modulus, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 827
value_high: 1862
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D790
rate: 1.27 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Flexural modulus, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Mechanical block, Flexural modulus row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: flexural_strength
label: Flexural yield strength, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 21.4
value_high: 63.4
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D790
rate: 1.27 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Flexural yield strength, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Mechanical block, Flexural yield strength row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: notched_izod_impact
label: Notched Izod impact at 23 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 139
value_high: 448
unit: J/m
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D256
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at 23 °C across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Mechanical block, Izod impact strength notched row, 23 °C
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: notched_izod_impact
label: Notched Izod impact at -40 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 80
value_high: 123
unit: J/m
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D256
temperature: '-40 °C'
method: Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at -40 °C across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Mechanical block, Izod impact strength notched row, -40 °C
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
label: Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 52
value_high: 86
unit: °C
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
load: 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
test: ASTM D648
conditioning: 4 h at 70 °C
method: Printed as Deflection temperature, 1.82 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Thermal block, Deflection temperature 1.82 MPa row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
label: Heat deflection temperature at 0.455 MPa, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 68
value_high: 96
unit: °C
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
load: 0.455 MPa (66 psi)
test: ASTM D648
conditioning: 4 h at 70 °C
method: Printed as Deflection temperature, 0.455 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Thermal block, Deflection temperature 0.455 MPa row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: vicat_softening_temperature
label: Vicat softening temperature, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 88
value_high: 121
unit: °C
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D1525
conditioning: 4 h at 70 °C
method: Printed as Vicat softening temperature across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Thermal block, Vicat softening temperature row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: moisture_absorption
label: Water absorption, 24 h immersion, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 1.2
value_high: 1.8
unit: '%'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D570
exposure: 24 h immersion
method: Printed as Water absorption (24 hr immersion), %, across the plasticizer columns of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Permanence block, Water absorption row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: weight_loss_on_heating
label: Weight loss on heating, 72 h at 80 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB (plasticizer 3 to 23 %)
value: 0.15
value_high: 1.2
unit: '%'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate, Formulas 264 to 576
plasticizer: 3 to 23 %
test: ASTM D707
exposure: 72 h at 80 °C
method: Printed as Weight loss on heating (72 hr @ 80 °C), %, across the plasticizer columns; not a canonical property name, listed in gaps
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Permanence block, Weight loss on heating row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: specific_heat
label: Specific heat at 23 °C, Tenite Butyrate CAB
value: 1.26
value_high: 1.67
unit: kJ/kg·K
conditions:
temperature: 23 °C
test: DSC
method: Printed as Specific heat @ 23°C (73°F) (DSC) in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Miscellaneous butyrate properties, Specific heat row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: thermal_conductivity
label: Thermal conductivity, Tenite Butyrate CAB
value: 0.17
value_high: 0.33
unit: W/m·K
conditions:
test: ASTM C177
temperature: not printed
method: Printed as Thermal conductivity (ASTM C177) in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block of the CAB selector chart
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Miscellaneous butyrate properties, Thermal conductivity row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: cte
label: Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, Tenite Butyrate CAB
value: 11
value_high: 17
unit: 10^-5 mm/mm·°C
conditions:
test: ASTM D696
temperature: not printed
method: Printed as 11 to 17 x 10^-5 mm/mm·°C (6 to 9 x 10^-5 in./in.·°F); kept in the printed unit, which is 11 to 17 ppm/K in the canonical unit
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Miscellaneous butyrate properties, Coefficient of linear thermal expansion row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: dielectric_strength
label: Dielectric strength, Tenite Butyrate CAB
value: 11.8
value_high: 18.7
unit: kV/mm
conditions:
test: ASTM D149
temperature: not printed
method: Printed as 11.8 to 18.7 kV/mm (300 to 475 V/mil) in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Miscellaneous butyrate properties, Dielectric strength row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: dielectric_constant
label: Dielectric constant at 1 MHz, Tenite Butyrate CAB
value: 3.3
value_high: 3.8
unit: '-'
conditions:
frequency: 1 MHz
test: ASTM D150
method: Printed as 3.3 to 3.8 in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Miscellaneous butyrate properties, Dielectric constant row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: refractive_index
label: Refractive index, Tenite Butyrate CAB
value: 1.46
value_high: 1.49
unit: '-'
conditions:
test: ASTM D542
temperature: not printed
method: Printed as 1.46 to 1.49 in the miscellaneous butyrate properties block
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Miscellaneous butyrate properties, Refractive index row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: yield_strength
label: Tensile stress at yield, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 19.3
value_high: 52.1
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D638
rate: 50 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Tensile stress at yield, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Tensile stress at yield row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile stress at break, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 24.1
value_high: 55.2
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D638
rate: 50 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Tensile stress at break, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Tensile stress at break row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation at break, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 20
value_high: 30
unit: '%'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D638
rate: 50 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Elongation at break, %, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Elongation at break row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: flexural_modulus
label: Flexural modulus, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 1034
value_high: 2896
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D790
rate: 1.27 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Flexural modulus, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Flexural modulus row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: flexural_strength
label: Flexural yield strength, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 27.6
value_high: 91.7
unit: MPa
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D790
rate: 1.27 mm/min
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Flexural yield strength, MPa, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Flexural yield strength row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: notched_izod_impact
label: Notched Izod impact at 23 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 117
value_high: 257
unit: J/m
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D256
temperature: 23 °C
method: Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at 23 °C across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Izod impact strength notched row, 23 °C
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: notched_izod_impact
label: Notched Izod impact at -40 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 37
value_high: 59
unit: J/m
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D256
temperature: '-40 °C'
method: Printed as Izod impact strength, notched, J/m at -40 °C across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Izod impact strength notched row, -40 °C
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
label: Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 50
value_high: 87
unit: °C
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
load: 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
test: ASTM D648
conditioning: 4 h at 70 °C
method: Printed as Deflection temperature, 1.82 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Thermal block, Deflection temperature 1.82 MPa row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
label: Heat deflection temperature at 0.455 MPa, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 65
value_high: 95
unit: °C
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
load: 0.455 MPa (66 psi)
test: ASTM D648
conditioning: 4 h at 70 °C
method: Printed as Deflection temperature, 0.455 MPa, conditioned 4 hr at 70 °C, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Thermal block, Deflection temperature 0.455 MPa row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: vicat_softening_temperature
label: Vicat softening temperature, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 90
value_high: 126
unit: °C
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D1525
conditioning: 4 h at 70 °C
method: Printed as Vicat softening temperature across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Thermal block, Vicat softening temperature row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: moisture_absorption
label: Water absorption, 24 h immersion, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 2.3
value_high: 2.6
unit: '%'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D570
exposure: 24 h immersion
method: Printed as Water absorption (24 hr immersion), %, across the plasticizer columns of the Formula 105 selector chart
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Permanence block, Water absorption row
- scope: material
status: ground
benchmark: weight_loss_on_heating
label: Weight loss on heating, 72 h at 80 °C, Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105 (plasticizer 19 to 37 %)
value: 0.3
value_high: 6
unit: '%'
conditions:
grade: Tenite cellulose acetate Formula 105, heat stabilised
plasticizer: 19 to 37 %
test: ASTM D706
exposure: 72 h at 80 °C
method: Printed as Weight loss on heating (72 hr @ 80 °C), %, across the plasticizer columns; not a canonical property name, listed in gaps
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Permanence block, Weight loss on heating row
corrosion:
- environment: Outdoor UV and sunlight
headline: Outdoor UV breaks the chains of cellulose esters; Eastman says its best outdoor butyrate formulations should remain useful for at least five years outdoors.
effect: Ultraviolet light causes chain scission, and in the presence of oxygen it causes oxidation; infrared warms the plastic and speeds both. Protection comes from UV inhibitors (UVIs) that absorb UV, and from antioxidants against oxidation. Eastman prints the five-year figure for its special outdoor formulations of Tenite butyrate, not for general-purpose grades.
rating: moderate
conditions:
exposure: outdoor, continental United States and comparable climates
stabiliser: special outdoor formulations with UV inhibitors
source: eastman-weathering
where: Introduction and Factors that influence weathering damage, opening pages
- environment: UV wavelength in sunlight
headline: Photodegradation of cellulose acetate is driven by UV at 280 nm or shorter.
effect: The Wikipedia article on cellulose acetate prints the UV photodegradation wavelength as 280 nm or shorter, in its disposal and degradation section. It gives no exposure time or intensity, so this is a wavelength limit, not a service life.
rating: moderate
conditions:
wavelength: 280 nm or shorter
source: wikipedia-ca
where: Disposal and degradation section
- environment: Humidity and moisture (24 h immersion)
headline: Water absorption of 2.3 to 2.6 % by weight after 24 h immersion for the Formula 105 cellulose acetate, and 1.2 to 1.8 % for CAB.
effect: Water uptake is measured here only as 24 h immersion. The Chalmers study finds that the glass transition of these esters rises with the number of hydroxyl groups, and that water absorption rises with the same hydroxyl content, so less-substituted grades take up more water.
rating: low
conditions:
exposure: 24 h immersion
test: ASTM D570
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Permanence block, Water absorption row
- environment: Heat before use (72 h at 80 °C)
headline: Weight loss on heating after 72 h at 80 °C runs from 0.3 to 6.0 % for Formula 105 and 0.15 to 1.2 % for CAB, rising with plasticizer content.
effect: The printed weight loss rises with plasticizer level in both datasheets, which suggests plasticizer loss. No source gives a strength or colour change after this test.
rating: low
conditions:
exposure: 72 h at 80 °C
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Permanence block, Weight loss on heating row
- environment: Heat in service under load
headline: Heat deflection under 1.82 MPa is 50 to 87 °C for CA and 52 to 86 °C for CAB across the plasticizer range; the lower-plasticizer grades hold the most heat.
effect: After conditioning for 4 h at 70 °C, the heat deflection temperature falls as the plasticizer level rises, so low-plasticizer grades give the highest service temperature and the highest flexural modulus in both datasheets.
rating: moderate
conditions:
load: 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
test: ASTM D648
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Thermal block, Deflection temperature 1.82 MPa row
risks:
hazards:
- text: The Eastman CAB safety data sheet for CAB-551-0.01, read through the NextSDS aggregator, classifies the product as combustible dust (EUH014, May form combustible dust concentrations in air) with signal word Warning and no H-codes.
ghs: []
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 02, classification
- text: Fine airborne CAB dust at sufficient concentration, with an ignition source, is a potential dust explosion hazard, according to the same Eastman SDS.
ghs: []
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 05, fire-fighting measures
- text: A supplier SDS for cellulose acetate (CAS 9004-35-7) gives no GHS symbol, signal word, hazard or precautionary statements (No data available). It states the material is not classified as explosive and is not dangerous goods for road, rail, sea or air transport.
ghs: []
source: chemicalbook-ca-sds
where: GHS and transport fields
- text: 'Cellulose acetate SDS fire notes: use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide; special hazard is carbon oxides; wear self-contained breathing apparatus if necessary.'
ghs: []
source: chemicalbook-ca-sds
where: Fire-fighting notes
failure_risks:
- mode: Softening under load in service
trigger: Service above about 87 °C under 1.82 MPa for the stiffest CA grade, or above about 96 °C under 0.455 MPa for the CAB at 3 % plasticizer
consequence: The part deflects under load once the heat deflection temperature is passed; lower plasticizer grades hold the most heat.
severity: moderate
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Thermal block, Deflection temperature rows
- mode: Dust explosion during handling of powder or pellets
trigger: Fine CAB dust in air at high concentration with an ignition source, as the Eastman SDS states
consequence: Potential dust explosion; the SDS advises no solid water stream and recommends water spray, dry chemical or CO2 for fires.
severity: high
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 05
- mode: Static ignition during solvent mixing
trigger: Mixing CAB into nonpolar hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene, which builds static charge
consequence: Risk of flash fire or explosion; the SDS advises an inert gas atmosphere when adding the ester to a flammable liquid.
severity: high
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 07, handling and storage
- mode: Low impact strength at low temperature
trigger: Impact at -40 °C on the Formula 105 cellulose acetate grades
consequence: Notched Izod impact falls to 37 to 59 J/m at -40 °C, against 117 to 257 J/m at 23 °C across the same plasticizer range.
severity: moderate
source: eastman-ca-selector
where: Mechanical block, Izod impact notched rows
- mode: Loss of properties in outdoor UV
trigger: Outdoor exposure without UV inhibitors, under sunlight and humidity
consequence: Chain scission and oxidation; the Eastman weathering note ties deterioration to the cellulose ester, plasticizer, stabiliser, UV wavelength, temperature and humidity.
severity: moderate
source: eastman-weathering
where: Introduction and Factors that influence weathering damage
side_effects:
- text: Molten CAB can cause burns; the Eastman SDS says burns from molten material need physician treatment and skin should be cooled with cold water.
affects: Operators during moulding and extrusion
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 04, first aid
- text: Decomposition products in a fire are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, per the Eastman SDS; the cellulose acetate SDS also names carbon oxides.
affects: People and equipment near a fire
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 10, stability and reactivity
handling:
- text: Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces, and take action to prevent static discharge, per the Eastman CAB SDS precautionary statements P210 and P243.
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 02, precautionary statements
- text: Keep incompatible strong oxidising agents away; the Eastman SDS lists them as incompatible.
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 10
- text: Dispose of contents and container at an approved facility under applicable regulations (P501).
source: nextsds-cab
where: Section 02, precautionary statements
mitigations:
- text: Choose a formulation with UV inhibitors for outdoor use; Eastman says its best outdoor butyrate formulations are expected to remain useful for at least five years outdoors.
source: eastman-weathering
where: Introduction
- text: 'Pick the plasticizer level for the heat and stiffness the part needs: the 3 % plasticizer CAB gives a 1.82 MPa heat deflection of 86 °C, against 52 °C at 23 %.'
source: eastman-cab-selector
where: Thermal block, Deflection temperature 1.82 MPa row
uses:
- application: optics-and-cameras
device: Photographic and motion-picture film base
example: Cellulose acetate replaced nitrate as the film base for photography and was used for motion-picture camera negatives; it was also used for magnetic tape base until PET film replaced it in 1956.
source: wikipedia-ca
where: Uses, Films
- application: structures
device: Injection-moulded and extruded parts (Tenite butyrate)
example: Eastman says Tenite butyrate has been used in an array of injection moulding and extrusion applications, and that it has become one of the best-known and most widely used cellulosic thermoplastics.
source: eastman-weathering
where: Opening text, first page
supply:
- subject: 'Cellulose feedstock for cellulose acetate and CAB: wood pulp or cotton linters'
abundance: Wood pulp or cotton linters are pretreated, acetylated, partly hydrolysed, precipitated as flakes, washed and dried before the flakes are dissolved in acetone and spun into fibre (Wikipedia). Eastman describes its cellulose esters as plastics made from wood pulp, a renewable resource.
producers: []
critical_lists: []
substitutes: []
source: wikipedia-ca
where: Production section; Eastman CAB selector chart, footer line
- subject: Global cellulose acetate production
abundance: Over 800000 tonnes per year in 2008, per the Wikipedia article (the only production volume found for this polymer).
producers: []
critical_lists: []
substitutes: []
source: wikipedia-ca
where: Disposal and degradation section
media: []
documents:
- title: Eastman, Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate selector chart, SP-TRS-10277 (12/19)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.dev-cs.eastman.com/content/dam/eastman/corporate/en/literature/s/sptrs10277.pdf
year: 2019
- title: Eastman, Tenite cellulose acetate selector chart, Formula 105, SP-TRS-10332 (1/20)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.eastman.com/content/dam/eastman/corporate/en/literature/s/sptrs10332.pdf
year: 2020
- title: Eastman, Weathering of Tenite butyrate, SP-TRS-10080
type: datasheet
url: https://www.eastman.com/content/dam/eastman/corporate/en/literature/s/sptrs10080.pdf
- title: Nilsson et al., Screening of hydrogen bonds in modified cellulose acetates with alkyl chain substitutions, Carbohydrate Polymers 285 (2022) 119188
type: paper
url: https://research.chalmers.se/publication/528876/file/528876_Fulltext.pdf
year: 2022
- title: Eastman CAB-551-0.01 safety data sheet (read through NextSDS)
type: sds
url: https://nextsds.com/sds/en/281331501297661/eastman-tm-cellulose-acetate-butyrate-cab-551-0-01
- title: ChemicalBook safety data sheet, cellulose acetate (CAS 9004-35-7)
type: sds
url: https://www.chemicalbook.com/msds/celluloseacetate.htm
- title: Jiangsu Yunjian, Technical Data Sheet, CAB-381-0.1 cellulose acetate butyrate
type: datasheet
url: https://img.chemicalbook.com/ProductImageEN1/ProductDoc/2025-05-20/202505201614020432548.pdf
gaps:
- 'No glass transition or heat deflection value for a commercial Eastman CA or CAB grade: the Eastman datasheets print no Tg, and the SpecialChem and Prospector pages that list them are behind a login.'
- No space flight, vacuum, outgassing (TML or CVCM) or radiation test result for CA or CAB was found in a source we could open. The NASA search returned polyimide and general outgassing reports only.
- The Springer paper on CAB ageing under UV, humidity, heat and X-rays (J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., doi 10.1007/s10967-016-5083-z) redirects to a login page, so no CAB ageing numbers are given.
- 'No PubChem CID or GHS record was found: PubChem returns no compound for the name or CAS, and the PubChem pages are blocked by a browser check.'
- 'The Eastman CAB SDS in full (revision date, section 11 toxicology, section 14 transport) was not accessible: NextSDS shows sections 12, 13 and 15 as not processed and section 11 as missing.'
- The Chalmers Table 3 water absorption column is not readable in the text layer, so the Chalmers water values are not used; water absorption comes from the Eastman 24 h immersion test.
- Producer countries and shares for cellulose acetate and CAB were not found in a source we could open, and no acetic acid or acetic anhydride supply source was read.
- The Eastman weathering charts (tensile and impact after Arizona exposure) are graphs; the printed numbers were not extracted.
- No atomic weights are given in a fetched source, so the recipe parts carry no atomic_weight field.
- Weight loss on heating is not a canonical property name in spores/property-canon.yaml; it is a short snake_case name.
- The Eastman CA selector chart prints a miscellaneous block headed butyrate properties; it is not used for CA.
- The Eastman Formula 105 and CAB sheets list typical values only and give no plasticizer-to-formula map, so each value is given as a plasticizer range, not as a named grade.
- The CAB composition (butyryl 35.5 to 41.5 %, acetyl 10 to 18 %, hydroxyl 0 to 3 %) comes from a Chinese supplier sheet for CAB-381-0.1, not from Eastman.
sources:
wikipedia-ca:
title: Wikipedia, Cellulose acetate
id: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_acetate, read 2026-10-26
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_acetate
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)
eastman-cab-selector:
title: Eastman, Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate selector chart, Formulas 264, 285, 485, 530, 550, 565, 575, 576
id: SP-TRS-10277, 12/19
url: https://www.dev-cs.eastman.com/content/dam/eastman/corporate/en/literature/s/sptrs10277.pdf
year: 2019
kind: datasheet
license: Eastman literature, cited not reproduced
eastman-ca-selector:
title: Eastman, Tenite cellulose acetate selector chart, Formula 105
id: SP-TRS-10332, 1/20
url: https://www.eastman.com/content/dam/eastman/corporate/en/literature/s/sptrs10332.pdf
year: 2020
kind: datasheet
license: Eastman literature, cited not reproduced
eastman-weathering:
title: Eastman, Weathering of Tenite butyrate
id: SP-TRS-10080
url: https://www.eastman.com/content/dam/eastman/corporate/en/literature/s/sptrs10080.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: Eastman literature, cited not reproduced
chalmers-ca-2022:
title: Nilsson et al., Screening of hydrogen bonds in modified cellulose acetates with alkyl chain substitutions
id: doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119188 (Carbohydrate Polymers 285, 119188)
url: https://research.chalmers.se/publication/528876/file/528876_Fulltext.pdf
year: 2022
kind: paper
license: open access, Chalmers repository
nextsds-cab:
title: Eastman CAB-551-0.01 safety data sheet (read through the NextSDS aggregator)
id: NextSDS listing 281331501297661, revision date not stated
url: https://nextsds.com/sds/en/281331501297661/eastman-tm-cellulose-acetate-butyrate-cab-551-0-01
kind: datasheet
license: SDS, cited not reproduced
chemicalbook-ca-sds:
title: ChemicalBook, cellulose acetate safety data sheet (CAS 9004-35-7)
id: CAS 9004-35-7
url: https://www.chemicalbook.com/msds/celluloseacetate.htm
kind: datasheet
license: SDS, cited not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 35
unreachable: 3
caveats: 2
note: Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26 from Eastman selector charts, Wikipedia, the Chalmers 2022 paper and two SDS sources. 35 properties are sourced; the Springer CAB ageing paper, PubChem, and the full Eastman SDS could not be opened.
story:
recipe:
line: Cellulose acetate is cellulose with part of its hydroxyl groups converted to acetate esters. Cellulose acetate butyrate also carries butyrate esters. Wood pulp or cotton linters are acetylated, partly hydrolysed and precipitated as flakes, which are dissolved in acetone to make fibre or moulding resin (Wikipedia).
parts:
- name: Anhydroglucose unit
symbol: C6 ring
role: The cellulose backbone repeat unit. Each unit has three hydroxyl groups that can be esterified.
- name: Acetyl group
symbol: COCH3
role: Esterifies the hydroxyl groups; a diacetate carries about two acetyl groups for every three hydroxyls (Wikipedia).
- name: Butyryl group (CAB only)
symbol: COC3H7
role: Replaces part of the acetyl groups in CAB. The CAB-381-0.1 supplier sheet gives butyryl 35.5 to 41.5 %, acetyl 10 to 18 %, hydroxyl 0 to 3 %.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 0
verdict: Low acute hazard, but a combustible dust
lead: Cellulose acetate and CAB are not classified as hazardous in the sources read, apart from the combustible-dust statement in the Eastman CAB SDS.
points:
- label: The resin
line: The cellulose acetate SDS gives no GHS hazard data. The Eastman CAB SDS gives no H-codes and classifies the powder as combustible dust (EUH014).
- label: Dust
line: Fine dust in air can form an explosive mixture with an ignition source. Keep dust down and avoid sparks.
- label: Molten material
line: Molten CAB causes burns; the SDS advises cold-water cooling and physician treatment.
- title: If the material burns
lead: Fire data come from the SDS, not from field incidents.
points:
- label: Fire
line: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or CO2. Do not use a solid water stream, which may spread the fire.
- label: Decomposition
line: Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are the decomposition products named in the SDS. The SDS also warns of static build-up when CAB is added to toluene or xylene.
- title: Handling and service
points:
- label: Storage
line: Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames, prevent static discharge, and keep strong oxidisers apart from CAB.
- label: Outdoors
line: Use a UV-stabilised formulation. Eastman expects its best outdoor butyrate formulations to remain useful for at least five years outdoors.
why: 'Cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate are cellulose esters made from wood pulp or cotton linters. They can be moulded, extruded, spun into fibre, cast as film and used as coatings, according to Wikipedia and the Eastman datasheets. The butyrate in CAB lowers the glass transition: the Chalmers films fall from 193 °C for CA to 109 °C for the highest-butyryl CAB. Eastman''s selector charts show that plasticizer level sets the trade-off between heat resistance and toughness.'
uses:
- where: Photographic and motion-picture film base
line: Cellulose acetate was the film base for photography and motion-picture negatives, and it was also used for magnetic tape until PET replaced it in 1956 (Wikipedia).
- where: Injection-moulded and extruded parts
line: Eastman says Tenite butyrate has been used in an array of injection moulding and extrusion applications, and is one of the most widely used cellulosic thermoplastics.
can_do:
- label: Stiffness and heat at low plasticizer
benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
value: 86 °C
line: The 3 % plasticizer CAB has a heat deflection of 86 °C at 1.82 MPa and 96 °C at 0.455 MPa, after conditioning for 4 h at 70 °C. Its flexural modulus is 1862 MPa.
- label: Glass transition
benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
value: 193 °C
line: The Chalmers hot-pressed CA film has a glass transition of 193 °C. The highest-butyryl CAB film falls to 109 °C.
- label: Room-temperature toughness
benchmark: notched_izod_impact
value: 117 to 257 J/m
line: The Formula 105 cellulose acetate has a notched Izod of 117 to 257 J/m at 23 °C across 19 to 37 % plasticizer. At -40 °C it falls to 37 to 59 J/m.
- label: Density
benchmark: density
value: 1.16 to 1.29
line: Specific gravity runs from 1.16 to 1.21 for CAB and from 1.26 to 1.29 for CA, across the plasticizer ranges printed in the Eastman charts.
compare: CA and CAB are cellulose esters made from wood pulp or cotton linters. PLA is a polyester made from lactic acid, which is made by fermenting plant sugars (see its own profile), so the two are both bio-based but differ in chemistry. CA has a glass transition of 193 °C in the Chalmers film and CAB is lower, while the heat deflection of both depends on plasticizer level. Pick CA or CAB where the cellulose ester's heat and stiffness range fits, and PLA where a polyester is needed.
compare_rows:
- label: Glass transition temperature (CA film)
benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
- label: Heat deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa
benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
- label: Water absorption
24 h immersion: null
benchmark: moisture_absorption
handling:
- Keep the powder dry, sealed and away from heat, sparks and open flames.
- Control dust and static when the powder is handled or mixed with solvents.
- Use a UV-stabilised grade for outdoor parts.
- Pick the plasticizer level for the heat the part must survive; low plasticizer gives the highest heat deflection.
good_for:
- Moulded and extruded parts that must hold shape to about 85 to 95 °C under load, from low-plasticizer grades.
- Films, fibres and coatings, the forms that the Wikipedia article's uses section names.
- Outdoor parts with UV inhibitors, where Eastman expects five years of service.
watch_out:
- Water uptake of 1.2 to 2.6 % by 24 h immersion, which changes stiffness and heat resistance.
- 'Low-temperature impact: notched Izod falls to 37 to 59 J/m at -40 °C for the Formula 105 grades.'
- Dust explosion and static hazards in powder handling, per the Eastman CAB SDS.
verdict: CA and CAB are mature cellulose esters with a usable heat range and good stiffness at low plasticizer. Their weak points are water uptake, UV without stabilisers, and dust and static in handling. No space flight data were found, so they cannot be called space-qualified.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia, Cellulose acetate | web | 6 values | ||
| Eastman, Tenite cellulose acetate butyrate selector chart, Formulas 264, 285, 485, 530, 550, 565, 575, 576 | datasheet | 2019 | 21 values | |
| Eastman, Tenite cellulose acetate selector chart, Formula 105 | datasheet | 2020 | 17 values | |
| Eastman, Weathering of Tenite butyrate | datasheet | 4 values | ||
| Nilsson et al., Screening of hydrogen bonds in modified cellulose acetates with alkyl chain substitutions | paper | 2022 | 2 values | |
| Eastman CAB-551-0.01 safety data sheet (read through the NextSDS aggregator) | datasheet | 9 values | ||
| ChemicalBook, cellulose acetate safety data sheet (CAS 9004-35-7) | datasheet | 2 values |