Cellulose Acetate is a semi-synthetic polymer material made from natural cellulose (usually derived from wood pulp or cotton linter) through acetylation. It combines the bio-based properties of natural cellulose with the plasticity of synthetic polymers and is widely used in textiles, plastics, films, coatings, cigarette filters and other fields.
Production process
Raw material pretreatment: wood pulp or cotton linter is purified to remove impurities such as lignin and hemicellulose
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Acetylation reaction: Under the catalysis of sulfuric acid, cellulose reacts with acetic anhydride to produce cellulose acetate.
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Hydrolysis: Control the degree of hydrolysis to obtain CA with different degrees of substitution (DS)
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Precipitation and washing: Add water to precipitate CA and wash to remove residual acid and catalyst
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Drying and granulation: After drying, it is made into powder or granules for subsequent processing
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Physical and chemical properties
Physical properties
Appearance: white or slightly yellow granules/powder
Density: 1.28-1.34 g/cm³
Melting point: 230-300°C (decomposition)
Transmittance: >90% (suitable for optical films)
Mechanical properties: high toughness, but lower than synthetic plastics such as PET
Chemical properties
Solvent resistance: Resistant to oil and aliphatic hydrocarbons, but easily hydrolyzed by strong acids/alkalis
Biodegradability: Degradable by microorganisms in the natural environment (better than traditional plastics)
Thermal stability: Stable below 200°C, easily decomposed at high temperatures
Application Areas
Textile Fiber
Acetate Fiber: Used in high-end clothing and linings, it has a silky luster and comfort.
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Plastics and films
Eyeglass frames, toys, packaging materials: Replace traditional plastics, more environmentally friendly.
LCD polarizer: CTA film is used in smartphones and TV screens
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Cigarette filters
About 90% of cigarette filters in the world use cellulose diacetate because of its non-toxicity and high adsorption properties.
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Coatings and Inks
CAB (cellulose acetate butyrate) is used in automotive paints to improve weather resistance and gloss.
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Medicine and food
Drug sustained-release carrier: CA microspheres are used to control drug release.
Food packaging film: biodegradable and compliant with environmental regulations.
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