Cellulose Nitrate Overview Cellulose nitrate (SELL-you-lohs NYE-trate) is a derivative of cellulose made by adding nitric acid (HNO3) to cellulose. Its physical properties tend to differ somewhat depending on the relative amount of nitrogen present in...

Guncotton, discovered in 1845 by Christian Friedrich Schönbein, a German chemist, represented a new phase in explosive weaponry. Previously, black gunpowder was used in great amounts for all weapons. The disadvantage was that it tended to give off...

Pulpy, cotton-like, amorphous solid (dry), colorless liquid to semisolid (solution). Used for fast-drying automobile lacquers, high explosives, and leather...

Nitrocellulose (also: cellulose nitrate, flash paper) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. When used as a propellant or low-order explosive, it is also known as...

ABSTRACT: Cellulose nitrate (nitrocellulose) is an explosive solid substance used in large quantities in various formulations of rocket and gun propellants. Safe destruction of nitrocellulose can be achieved by alkaline hydrolysis, which converts it to biodegradable products that can then be treated by conventional...

CITING A flooded global market, Hercules Inc. will phase out its production and sales of nitrocellulose. Monika Riese-Martin, general manager of the Aqualon Division of Hercules, notes that the decision is market driven. "Despite a significant internal effort to reduce our production costs,"...