cellulose

polymer

Cellulose is a natural biopolymer—the primary structural component of plant cell walls—composed of glucose units linked in linear chains. It is widely used in paper, textiles, and films due to its abundance, biodegradability, and tunable mechanical properties through chemical modification (e.g., cellulose acetate, viscose, microcrystalline cellulose). Engineers select cellulose and its derivatives when sustainability, renewability, and moderate stiffness are priorities, or when compatibility with water-based processing and natural-fiber reinforcement are required; variants also serve in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications where non-toxicity and biocompatibility are essential.

paper and cardboard packagingtextiles and fibersthermoplastic films and membraneswood-composite reinforcementfood and pharmaceutical excipientsbiodegradable polymers

Compliance & Regulations

?UL 94?Conflict Free?RoHS?REACH?TSCA?Prop 65
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Compressive Strength(σc)
ksi
Elongation at Break(εf)
-
Flexural Strength (MOR)(σf)
ksi
Hardness (Vickers)(HV)
HV
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS)
ksi
Young's Modulus(E)
ksi
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg)
°F
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm)
°F
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax)
°F
Thermal Conductivity(k)
BTU/(hr·ft·°F)
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Band Gap(Eg)
eV
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Refractive Index(n)
-
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.
cellulose — Properties & Data | MatWorld