Materials for Design

CA (Cellulose Acetate)

Cellulose acetate has to be one of the most seductive plastics. A beautiful surface, uncomplicated processing and it feels warm when you hold it in your hand.

Cellulose nitrate was one of the first plastics to be commercialized when it was first discovered in the mid-nineteenth century, and it later became known as celluloid. Unfortunately, in terms of commercial usefulness it didn’t last long because it was highly flammable. Today, cellulose acetate and its cousins from the cellulosics family feature much more often on the designer’s radar. It’s a material that combines many valid mechanical properties, such as toughness and optical clarity, with a whole list of seductive sensory qualities. Cellulose acetate is made up ...