Interesting Facts About the Products of Nitrocellulose

The properties of nitrocellulose are cellulose and nitric acid. Cellulose is a carbohydrate, a substance that plant cell walls are made of. All carbohydrates have oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. Nitric acid is found organically in its weakest form as rainfall. It is naturally acidic and has oxidizing properties. Nitric acid was one of the earliest acids used by alchemists. Today, Nitrocellulose combinations are used to make explosives, varnishes, plastic products and other items.

Rayon Fiber

A French chemist by the name of Hilaire Chardonnet is credited with developing a nitrocellulose fiber made from cotton known as rayon back in 1884. He was born in Besancon, France, and as a student, he studied under the guidance of Louis Pasteur.

Furniture Varnish

For over 80 years, nitrocellulose based has been used to polish furniture. Compared to shellac, the finish is clearer, non-staining and more resistant to water and abrasions. While other chemically based polishes are still in use, nitrocellulose-based products continue to remain popular for their reliability to give a durable shine.

Gun cotton Explosive

In 1846, German chemist C.F. Schonbein invented the gun-cotton-making process. Gun-cotton is an explosive that is made using a mixture sulfuric and nitric acids as the soaking base for either wood cellulose that is purified or cotton. Rocket propellants and smokeless gunpowder are common uses of gun-cotton. In 1887, the first colloided powder was created by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist. Burning rates are controlled by the process of gelantization (being colloided) in solvents such as nitroglycerin.

Black Powder and Gunpowder

In early times, black powder was used in cannons and, in more recent times, fireworks. Black powder consists of a combination of charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate (also called saltpeter), and sometimes graphite is also added. Charcoal and saltpeter (Potassium nitrate) are the chemical ingredients in Sulfur-less Gunpowder. Nitroglycerin is the dissolving agent for the nitrocellulose used in some colloided powders. A lesser powerful powder than black powder is sulfur-less powder. It is used more often in gunpowder as it emits less smoke than other types.

Dangers

There has been concern in recent years, of the long-term effects of fireworks. Carbon can linger in the air for months and chemical oxidizers may trickle in the air for longer periods of time. Scientists continue to research better ways to control the timing of the oxidizing agents used to control the burning process in some explosives.

Advancements

Some businesses and organizations that regularly set off fireworks are already using safer products containing nitrocellulose variations. For them, the less toxic forms have replaced ones that included a larger amount of charcoal and miscellaneous fuel concentrated formulas such as those found in black powder. Meanwhile, scientists continue their research to refine the best solutions that preserve our ozone and sustain our health.

References / Resources

Marla Cone. (2008, July 4). Lovely, but loaded with pollutants; Fireworks displays spew metals, carbon, fuels and other toxins that can linger for days or even longer. Los Angeles Times,p. B.1. Retrieved May 18, 2009, from Los Angeles Times database. (Document ID: 1505128631).

Blackwell, John. "Cellulose." World Book Advanced. 2009. [Columbus Metropolitan Library.] 18 May 2009 .

Busch, Marianna A. "Nitric acid." World Book Advanced. 2009. [Columbus Metropolitan Library.] 18 May 2009 .

Mauskopf, Seymour Harold. "Chardonnet, Hilaire." World Book Advanced. 2009. [Columbus Metropolitan Library.] 18 May 2009 .

Kennedy, James E. "Gun-cotton." World Book Advanced. 2009. [Columbus Metropolitan Library.] 18 May 2009 .