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.