cellulose acetate butyrate

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.