6 replies to this topic

[pyrotechnist]

Just as the title says really. I heard that Cellulose Nitrate is part of Nitro Cellulose but ain't sure how I can make Cellulose Nitrate.

[Arthur Brown]

Cellulose is largely non flammable or at least in terms of pyro!

Nitro cellulose is an explosive product with very little use in anything fireworks, though there are examples in stage and theatrical pyro especially flash cotton and flash paper as used by magicians.

In terms of this forum please note that organo nitro compounds are not happy discussion topics.

[Mortartube]

NC lacquer is sometimes applied to fuses to aid ignition, it can also be used as a binder in certain compositions.

Cellulose ping pong balls are probably the most used source and they are dissolved in acetone.

I am not very experienced in the use of it but I am sure that other members can point you in the right direction.

Nitrocellulose prills are used in the big flamethrower effects sometimes used at rock concerts.

Nitrocellulose can come in three types.

Single base, which is straight Nitrocellulose,

Double base which has additional nitroglycerin and

Triple base which is a combination of Nitrocellulose, Nitroglycerin and Nitroguanidine.

All have different characteristics. NC powders are usually used in shooting and have a limited pyrotechnic use.

They have also been used in indoor fireworks as they are smokeless, often with the addition of fine metal powders.

Nitrocellulose was accidentally discovered by Christian Schonbein in 1845. More here.

http://en.wikipedia....ri..._Schönbein

[seymour]

As far as I am aware Cellulose nitrate and Nitrocellulose are one and the same. There are a range of factors, some related to the manufacture of a stable product and some legal which make nitrocellulose production at home a challenging task. It has been discussed on another thread. Searching for nitrocellulose (top right of the page) should bring up the thread which has the issues related to NC synthesis in more detail.

In fireworks NC has several common uses. As has been noted already when dissolved in acetone and mixed with black powder or another easily ignited composition it can be used to prime fuses or glue comets together. NC is also the binder in Ammonium perchlorate stars and dragons eggs where it seals the star effectively preventing aqueous Potassium nitrate or other chemicals from getting in and messing with things.

Pyrotechnist, you've been around here for years, so you probably know all this anyway. Have you taken a break and recently come back? I think that while making NC might have been ok to discuss five years ago on this forum, the ghastly events in July 2005, combined with the phenomenal work in getting the UKPS off the ground and emphasizing it's commitment to safety have changed things.

What do you want the NC for if I may ask?

[pyrotechnist]

Thanks for the information, I was pretty sure Cellulose was part of NC but I have never really looked into NC or touched it. I asked because I found a place that sells 500g of Cellulose which kinda made me think if it could be used by anyone in pyro. I once thought of making a Visco rig which would have required NC for a complete water tight product but never got round to doing it.

May I ask what happened in 2005? I think I missed that one.

Edited by pyrotechnist, 18 August 2008 - 08:47 AM.

[seymour]

The London bombings.

[pyrotechnist]

Ahh yes that, anyhow thank you all for the info.