Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) CAS 9004-36-8 is a semi-synthetic thermoplastic cellulose ester produced by esterifying natural cellulose with acetic acid and butyric anhydride. Its performance is adjustable by tuning butyryl, acetyl and hydroxyl content, available in powder or granular form with white‑off‑white appearance.
It features outstanding UV‑resistance, high clarity, fast‑drying property, excellent flow‑leveling performance and good compatibility with acrylic, polyurethane and alkyd resins. Different viscosity grades (321‑, 381‑,531‑,551‑series) serve diversified requirements.
Mainly applied in automotive refinish, wood & plastic coatings, printing inks, nail‑polish film‑former, transparent films and specialty plastics. Insoluble in water, soluble in ketones and ester‑type solvents. Store in cool dry place, keep away from heat and fire source.
CAB grades are mainly classified by butyryl content and solution viscosity (molecular weight). Main commercial series: 321 / 381 / 531 / 551 / 553.
Main Series Overview
| Grade Series | Butyryl % | Acetyl % | Key Feature | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAB‑321‑0.1 | ~32.5 | ~18 | Low butyryl, anti‑redissolve | Automotive basecoat, prevent clear‑coat bite‑backEastman |
| CAB‑381 series (most universal) | 36‑40 | 10‑14 | Medium butyryl, good compatibility | General paint, wood coating, ink, automotive refinish |
| CAB‑531‑1 | ~50 | ~3 | High butyryl, flexible tough film | High‑end wood lacquer, plastic coating, aerosol paintEastman |
| CAB‑551 series | 51‑53 | 1‑2 | Highest butyryl, low viscosity, UV compatible | High‑solid paint, UV‑curable coating, nail polish (cosmetic) |
| CAB‑553‑0.4 | ~46 | ~2 | High hydroxyl, alcohol‑soluble, cross‑linkable | Thermoset coating, printing ink, pigment wettingEastman |
Popular sub‑grades inside each series
CAB‑381‑0.1: Ultra‑low viscosity, high‑solid formulation, fast drying
CAB‑381‑0.5: Best‑selling universal grade, automotive / wood / plastic paint, ink
CAB‑381‑2: Medium viscosity, tough film, metallic basecoat
CAB‑381‑20: High viscosity, outdoor weather‑resistant thick film coating
CAB‑551‑0.01: Ultra‑low viscosity, UV system modifier
CAB‑551‑0.2: Widely‑used high‑butyryl grade, cosmetic nail‑polish film‑former, cross‑linked coatings
Note: Suffix number after hyphen stands for viscosity value (Ubbelohde seconds). Higher number = higher molecular weight & higher viscosity.
Simple selection guide
General paint & ink: CAB‑381‑0.5 (first choice)
UV‑cured / cosmetic nail polish: CAB‑551‑0.2
Anti‑bite‑back automotive basecoat: CAB‑321‑0.1
Flexible high‑gloss wood finish: CAB‑531‑1
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