CPVC vs. CAB

Both CPVC and CAB are thermoplastics. There are 17 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 CPVC and the bottom bar is CAB.

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

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		4.0
Elongation at Break, %		50 to 55

Flexural Modulus, GPa		2.5
Flexural Modulus, GPa		0.8 to 1.7

Flexural Strength, MPa		100
Flexural Strength, MPa		21 to 57

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

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature, °C		100
Glass Transition Temperature, °C		140

Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		91
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		53 to 82

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		780
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1460

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

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

Electrical Properties

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

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

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.5
Density, g/cm³		1.2

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		57
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		18

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.030
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		1.2 to 1.6

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		9.4
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		4.8 to 12

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		20
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		14 to 25

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.27
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.14 to 0.15