CAB vs. PS

Both CAB and PS are thermoplastics. There are 16 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (16, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is CAB and the bottom bar is PS.

Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)Polystyrene (PS)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		50 to 55
Elongation at Break, %		1.8 to 40

Flexural Strength, MPa		21 to 57
Flexural Strength, MPa		62 to 80

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		20 to 50
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		32 to 44

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature, °C		140
Glass Transition Temperature, °C		100

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1460
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1250 to 1400

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.14 to 0.22

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		14
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		80 to 98

Vicat Softening Temperature, °C		90 to 120
Vicat Softening Temperature, °C		100 to 110

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		15
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		18 to 20

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		14 to 15

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.2
Density, g/cm³		1.0

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		18
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		18

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		1.2 to 1.6
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.040 to 0.080

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		4.8 to 12
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		8.5 to 12

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		14 to 25
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		22 to 26

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.14 to 0.15
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.11 to 0.15