PPO vs. CA

Both PPO and CA are thermoplastics. There are 14 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (15, in this case) are not shown.

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

Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)Cellulose Acetate (CA)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break, %		3.5 to 28
Elongation at Break, %		25 to 30

Flexural Modulus, GPa		2.5 to 8.6
Flexural Modulus, GPa		1.7 to 2.1

Flexural Strength, MPa		92 to 140
Flexural Strength, MPa		40 to 55

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		63 to 140
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		30 to 37

Thermal Properties

Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		120 to 140
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi), °C		65 to 75

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1020 to 1250
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1500

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		25 to 60
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		14

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		19 to 21
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential), kV/mm		15

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		15
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.1 to 1.4
Density, g/cm³		1.3

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		32
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), %		17

Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		0.060 to 0.070
Water Absorption After 24 Hours, %		2.3

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		16 to 27
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		6.4 to 7.9

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		33 to 42
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		17 to 19