Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) is a mixed ester

thermoplastic A thermoplastic, or thermosoft plastic, is any plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight. The polymer chains associate ...

derivative of

cellulose acetate In biochemistry, cellulose acetate refers to any acetate ester of cellulose, usually cellulose diacetate. It was first prepared in 1865. A bioplastic, cellulose acetate is used as a film base in photography, as a component in some coatings, and ...

that contains both acetate and

butyrate The conjugate acids are in :Carboxylic acids. {{Commons category, Carboxylate ions, Carboxylate anions Carbon compounds Oxyanions ...

functional groups. It has improved weathering resistance and lower moisture absorption compared to cellulose acetate. The exact properties of a CAB compound is determined by the composition of butyrate vs acetate functional groups. CAB is commonly used as a binder or additive in coatings.

References

Thermoplastics Butyrate esters Acetate esters {{ester-stub