Silicone Plastic vs. CA

Silicone plastic belongs to the thermoset plastics classification, while CA belongs to the thermoplastics. There are 12 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (17, in this case) are not shown.

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

Silicone Plastic Cellulose Acetate (CA)

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		38
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		30 to 37

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature, °C		200
Glass Transition Temperature, °C		230

Maximum Temperature: Decomposition, °C		480
Maximum Temperature: Decomposition, °C		250

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		850
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		1500

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.35
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		0.25

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		35
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		12
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude, 10^x Ω-m		16

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density, g/cm³		1.9
Density, g/cm³		1.3

Common Calculations

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		5.5
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		6.4 to 7.9

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		13
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		17 to 19

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.22
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		0.13