CA vs. CPVC

Both CA and CPVC are thermoplastics. There are 18 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (16, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is CA and the bottom bar is CPVC.

Cellulose Acetate (CA)Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC, PVC-C)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		25 to 30
Elongation at Break, %		4.0

Flexural Modulus, GPa		1.7 to 2.1
Flexural Modulus, GPa		2.5

Flexural Strength, MPa		40 to 55
Flexural Strength, MPa		100

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		30 to 37
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		50

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature, °C		230
Glass Transition Temperature, °C		100

Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		65 to 75
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		91

Maximum Temperature: Autoignition, °C		400
Maximum Temperature: Autoignition, °C		640

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1500
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		780

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.31

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		14
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		65

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		15
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		49

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		13

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.3
Density, g/cm³		1.5

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		17
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		57

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		2.3
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.030

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		6.4 to 7.9
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		9.4

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		17 to 19
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		20

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.13
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.27