CN PEARL
Additive grade
PEARL = pearlescent / imitation mother-of-pearl laminated sheet
Guanine/mica pearl-pigmented and laminated stock for guitar picks, plectrums, pen barrels and accordion facings — chosen purely for optical depth, not for strength.
Values for the PEARL condition
Other CN grades and fills
CN is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at CN.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High-camphor flexible grade | Plasticiser-rich (≥30 % camphor/plasticiser) composition rolled into thin flexible sheet for table-tennis balls, toys and drawing/tracing sheet; softer and more prone to plasticiser loss. | 30 | 42 | 55 | 72 Shore D |
PEARLThis page Pearlescent / imitation mother-of-pearl laminated sheet | Guanine/mica pearl-pigmented and laminated stock for guitar picks, plectrums, pen barrels and accordion facings — chosen purely for optical depth, not for strength. | 40 | 48 | 25 | 82 Shore D |
Imitation tortoiseshell / amber patterned sheet | Dye-mottled brown/amber celluloid block sawn into eyewear-frame fronts and temples; picked for its warm translucency and easy hot bending. | 41 | 50 | 30 | 79 Shore D |
Imitation ivory | White, TiO2/ZnO-loaded laminated stock with printed grain lines for piano key tops, knife scales, cutlery handles and dressing-table ware. | 42 | 48 | 20 | 83 Shore D |
What is CN PEARL?
CN PEARL is CN in the PEARL grade — guanine/mica pearl-pigmented and laminated stock for guitar picks, plectrums, pen barrels and accordion facings — chosen purely for optical depth, not for strength. CN PEARL has a yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 48 MPa (6.96 ksi) — weaker than 63% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 2 GPa (0.29 Msi). CN PEARL has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 55°C (131 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 95/100, better than 98% of polymer grades
- Easy to machine — 82/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 72/100, better than 80% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 12/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 1.8%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 55°C (131 °F), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), worse than 83% of polymer grades
CN PEARL properties
Typical room-temperature values for CN PEARL; 26 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are CN reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
CN PEARL has a density of 1.42 g/cm³ (0.0513 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 55°C (131 °F).
Mechanical12
CN PEARL has a yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 48 MPa (6.96 ksi) — weaker than 63% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 2 GPa (0.29 Msi).
Thermal10
CN PEARL is rated for continuous service to 55°C (131 °F). It conducts heat at 0.23 W/m·K (0.133 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 65% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 110 µm/m·K (61.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
CN PEARL is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 16 kV/mm (406.4 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 98% of polymer grades. UV resistance is not recommended.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of CN PEARL takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 70% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability4
CN PEARL's machinability is very good (82/100, better than 86% of polymer grades); weldability very good (72/100); formability very good (78/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with CN PEARL
Is CN easy to machine?
Saws, mills, turns and sands very freely with sharp tools, but use slow speeds, flood coolant or air blast — frictional heat or sparks can ignite the chips, and dust must not accumulate.
Can CN be welded?
No thermal welding; joined by solvent cementing with acetone, amyl acetate or celluloid-in-solvent dope, which gives near-parent-strength joints.
Can CN be formed, bent or molded?
Not injection moulded — supplied as seasoned block/sheet and shaped by hot bending, pressing or vacuum forming at roughly 70–90 °C; long seasoning is needed to remove solvent and avoid post-shrinkage.
What surface finishes work on CN?
Buffs to an outstanding deep gloss with tripoli/wax wheels and takes dyes and lacquers well; avoid hot plating baths, alcoholic cleaners and prolonged UV, and store ventilated to disperse evolved acids.
CN chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| cellulose nitrate (nitrogen 10.5–11.5 %)plastics-grade nitrocellulose, lower N than propellant grades | 68 – 78 | 72 |
| camphor (plasticizer)may be partly replaced by triacetin/phthalate co-plasticizers | 20 – 32 | 26 |
| stabilizer (urea/diphenylamine type)acid scavenger to slow autocatalytic degradation | 0.1 – 1 | 0.4 |
| pigments / dyes / pearl essenceTiO2, ZnO, mica or guanine for ivory/pearl effects | 0 – 6 | 1.5 |
| residual solvent + moisturealcohol/ether retained after seasoning | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
CN PEARL — frequently asked
What is CN PEARL used for?
CN PEARL is typically used for eyewear frames, musical instrument parts (guitar picks, pickguards), table tennis balls, decorative laminates and novelty items. In short: highest-gloss cellulosic; flammable, largely obsolete; solvent-cements to parent strength.
What is the yield strength of CN PEARL?
CN PEARL has a typical yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 48 MPa (6.96 ksi) — weaker than 63% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is CN PEARL easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (82/100, better than 86% of polymer grades). Saws, mills, turns and sands very freely with sharp tools, but use slow speeds, flood coolant or air blast — frictional heat or sparks can ignite the chips, and dust must not accumulate.
Can CN PEARL be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (72/100). No thermal welding; joined by solvent cementing with acetone, amyl acetate or celluloid-in-solvent dope, which gives near-parent-strength joints.
What surface finishes work on CN PEARL?
Buffs to an outstanding deep gloss with tripoli/wax wheels and takes dyes and lacquers well; avoid hot plating baths, alcoholic cleaners and prolonged UV, and store ventilated to disperse evolved acids.
Can CN PEARL be formed, bent or molded?
Not injection moulded — supplied as seasoned block/sheet and shaped by hot bending, pressing or vacuum forming at roughly 70–90 °C; long seasoning is needed to remove solvent and avoid post-shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of CN PEARL?
CN PEARL is rated for continuous use to about 55°C (131 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics (cellulosics) — ASM International (1988)
- Handbook of Plastic Materials and Technology — cellulose nitrate section — Wiley (1990)
- Conservation of Plastics / cellulose nitrate degradation data — Victoria & Albert Museum – Plastics Historical Society literature (2008)
- Celluloid sheet for eyewear and musical accessories — technical bulletin — Japanese/Chinese celluloid sheet producers (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.