Properties of Cellulose Acetate (CA)
Cellulose acetate (CA) is a semi-synthetic polymer derived from natural cellulose, typically obtained from wood pulp or cotton fibers. It’s produced by acetylating cellulose with acetic acid or acetic anhydride, resulting in a versatile, thermoplastic material widely used in textiles, films, and plastics.
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The following table provides a comprehensive list of cellulose acetate (CA) properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).
Click on the button to switch between Metric and Imperial units.
| Physical Properties | Metric |
|---|---|
| Category | Thermoplastic |
| Density | 1270 - 1340 kg/m3 |
| Water Absorption | 1.9 - 7.0 %wt/day |
| Mechanical Properties | Metric |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 12 - 110 MPa |
| Yield Tensile Strength | 17 - 43 MPa |
| Ultimate Compressive Strength | 20 - 55 MPa |
| Young’s Modulus (E) | 1.0 - 4.0 GPa |
| Flexural Modulus | 8.3 - 27.6 GPa |
| Elongation at Break | 6 - 70% |
| Rockwell Hardness (R) | 34 - 125 |
| Thermal Properties | Metric |
| Melting Point | 230 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.16 - 0.36 W/m·K |
| Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) | 1200 - 1900 J/kg·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αL) | 8×10-5 - 1.8×10-4 1/°C |
| Electrical Properties | Metric |
| Relative Permittivity (@1 MHz) (εr) | 5 |
| Electrical Resistivity | 1012 Ω·cm |
| Dielectric Field Strength (Ed) | 110 kV/cm |
| Optical Properties | Metric |
| Refractive Index (589 nm) | 1.49 |
| Hazardous Data | Metric |
| Flammability Rating (ANSI/UL 94) | Combustible |
Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)