cellulose nitrate
Explosive film base
Cellulose nitrate is a flammable compound made by treating plant cellulose with nitric acid.
It was the first synthetic plastic, used for early photographic film, lacquers, and explosives.
The material's extreme flammability made old movie reels dangerously combustible.
Also called nitrocellulose or, in some forms, guncotton.
Transparent flammable synthetic material
- guncottonNitric-acid-treated fiber explosive
- collodionNitrocellulose in solvent
- billiard ballsNumbered spheres for cue sports
- synthetic materialHuman-made substance, not natural
thermoplastic · industrialization · 1860s · combs · piano keys · dentures · novelty items · vulcanite
Transparent flammable synthetic material
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- photographyCreating images from light
- negativesUnfavorable aspects or refusals
- motion pictureFilmed visual narrative
silent era · footage · frames · projection · emulsion · archival · preservation · decomposition
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- plasticizerAdditive increasing material pliability
- camphorAromatic crystalline insect deterrent
- collodionNitrocellulose in solvent
lacquer · coating · transparent · flexible · brittle · yellowing · degradation · instability
Capable of burning
- inflammableAble to catch fire
- fire hazardCombustion danger source
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- flashpointIgnition temperature threshold
volatile · explosive · conflagration · pyrotechnics · decomposition · spontaneous combustion · oxygen · flame
celluloid
Transparent flammable synthetic material
- guncottonNitric-acid-treated fiber explosive
- collodionNitrocellulose in solvent
- billiard ballsNumbered spheres for cue sports
synthetic material · thermoplastic · industrialization · 1860s · combs · piano keys · dentures · novelty items · vulcanite · camphor
celluloid
Transparent flammable synthetic material
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- photographyCreating images from light
- negativesUnfavorable aspects or refusals
motion picture · silent era · footage · frames · projection · emulsion · archival · preservation · decomposition · acetate
thermoplastic
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- plasticizerAdditive increasing material pliability
- camphorAromatic crystalline insect deterrent
collodion · lacquer · coating · transparent · flexible · brittle · yellowing · degradation · instability · ester
combustible
Capable of burning
- inflammableAble to catch fire
- fire hazardCombustion danger source
- ignitionStarting combustion process
flashpoint · volatile · explosive · conflagration · pyrotechnics · decomposition · spontaneous combustion · oxygen · flame
- modified sugarsmodified starch, dextrin, maltodextrin, sorbitol, xylitol
- nitratessaltpeter
- nitro compoundsnitrobenzene, nitromethane, trinitrotoluene, TNT
cellulose, nitrate, unicellular, nitrite, nitrates, nitric, multicellular, intracellular, extracellular