Is Nitrocellulose a Plastic

The most well-known ni- trocellulose plastic is celluloid, 17 the first plastic, made by plasticizing nitro- cellulose with camphor. … Nitrocellulose may be trans- ported mixed with pigment for manufacture in plastics. Plasticizers may be added to aid in processing and handling.

What is nitrocellulose made of?

Nitrocellulose is made by treating cellulose with a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids. This changes the hydroxyl groups (–OH) in the cellulose to nitro groups (–NO3) as shown in Fig. 13.4. Nitrocellulose, also know as gun cotton and the main ingredient of smokeless gunpowder, decomposes explosively.

What are nitrocellulose products?

Because of their fluffy and nearly white appearance, nitrocellulose products are often referred to as cottons, e.g. lacquer cotton, celluloid cotton, and gun cotton. Guncotton was originally made from cotton (as the source of cellulose) but contemporary methods use highly processed cellulose from wood pulp.