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Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) is a transparent plastics material with a huge potential in various optical applications. In this book, a research was carried out to determine and optimize the quality of extruded sheets of Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, for use in optical applications. Different levels of plasticizers were used to improve the quality of extruded sheets, and their effects analyzed to determine the optimal levels. The research compared and investigated the four commonly used grades i.e. CAB with 5%, 8%, 10% and 12% plasticizer content. CAB 8% showed balanced properties that are desirable for optical applications. The result of the research is very useful to manufacturers, process engineers, R&D engineers and professionals working in optical related products. Moreover, it may be a platform for manufacturers and research students to advance and broaden their research on CAB with other additives, such as dyes, UV absorbers and antioxidant. This would create more market for this valuable transparent plastics material.

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Peter M. Riitho, MS: Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell. BS: Mechanical Engineering, University of Nairobi. He has wide experience in plastics extrusion and injection molding of high performance plastics materials. Manufacturing Manager at Oxford Performance Materials, Inc., Enfield, CT.

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