PTFE vs. CAB

Both PTFE and CAB are thermoplastics. There are 14 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (13, in this case) are not shown.

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

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		75 to 300
Elongation at Break, %		50 to 55

Flexural Modulus, GPa		0.4 to 1.3
Flexural Modulus, GPa		0.8 to 1.7

Flexural Strength, MPa		13 to 50
Flexural Strength, MPa		21 to 57

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		13 to 25
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		20 to 50

Thermal Properties

Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		66 to 70
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		53 to 82

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.24 to 0.65
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		110 to 120
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		14

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 MHz		2.1 to 2.4
Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 MHz		3.6

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		2.0 to 18
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		2.1 to 2.3
Density, g/cm³		1.2

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		90
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		18

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.0093 to 0.050
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		1.2 to 1.6

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		1.7 to 3.2
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		4.8 to 12

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		5.7 to 8.7
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		14 to 25