PVC-P vs. CAB

Both PVC-P and CAB are thermoplastics. There are 14 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (22, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is PVC-P and the bottom bar is CAB.

Plasticized (Flexible) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC-P)Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		180
Elongation at Break, %		50 to 55

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		16
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		20 to 50

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature, °C		75
Glass Transition Temperature, °C		140

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

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.17
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		160
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		14

Electrical Properties

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

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		11
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.4
Density, g/cm³		1.2

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		44
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		18

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.45
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		1.2 to 1.6

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		3.2
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		4.8 to 12

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		10
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		14 to 25

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.090
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.14 to 0.15