cellulose acetate butyrate

polymer

Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) is a semi-synthetic thermoplastic polymer derived from natural cellulose through esterification, combining acetate and butyrate groups to create a material with excellent clarity, toughness, and processability. It is widely used in consumer products, optical applications, and industrial components where transparency combined with impact resistance is needed, and is often preferred over cellulose acetate alone because the butyrate groups enhance flow characteristics during molding and improve low-temperature flexibility. Its balance of optical clarity, chemical resistance, and ease of fabrication makes it a practical choice for applications where engineering plastics like polystyrene or acrylic must provide additional durability.

transparent optical componentssafety eyewear and visorsconsumer electronics housingsflexible tubing and pipesadhesive films and coatingstool handles and grips

Compliance & Regulations

?UL 94?Conflict Free?RoHS?REACH?TSCA?Prop 65
Units:
siimperial
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg)
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°F——
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source

Regulatory Screening

Environmental

Safety & Biocompatibility

RoHS, REACH, and Prop 65 statuses are validated against official substance lists (ECHA SVHC Candidate List, OEHHA Prop 65, RoHS Annex II). Other regulations are estimated from composition and material classification. All screening is a starting point for due diligence — always verify with your supplier before making compliance decisions.