PMMA vs. CAB

Both PMMA and CAB are thermoplastics. There are 16 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (19, in this case) are not shown.

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

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA, Acrylic)Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		4.0
Elongation at Break, %		50 to 55

Flexural Strength, MPa		110
Flexural Strength, MPa		21 to 57

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		71
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		20 to 50

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature, °C		110
Glass Transition Temperature, °C		140

Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		96
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		53 to 82

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1260
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1460

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.19
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		76
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		14

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

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		30
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		15

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

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

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		17
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		18

Refractive Index		1.5
Refractive Index		1.5

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		17
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		4.8 to 12

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		32
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		14 to 25

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.13
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.14 to 0.15