Melamine vs. CAB

Melamine belongs to the thermoset plastics classification, while CAB belongs to the thermoplastics. There are 11 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (18, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is melamine and the bottom bar is CAB.

Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		1.0
Elongation at Break, %		50 to 55

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		30
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		20 to 50

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1200
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1460

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.5
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		60
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		14

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		30
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		15

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		9.0
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

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

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		5.6
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		4.8 to 12

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

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.28
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.14 to 0.15