7 replies to this topic

[archaic]

Does anyone knows how could make powder of nitrocellulose?

[phildunford]

Process is freely available on the web & in books, but involves use of concentrated Nitric & Sulphuric acids & considerable work in freeing the product of residual acid (which will encourage decomposition). NC lacquers are available from pyro suppliers and some specialist paint suppliers (for old bikes & guitars!) and possibly the powder too. Much easier!

[pyromaniac303]

It is also available from model aircraft hobby suppliers under the name of 'cellulose dope'. Starloc adhesives in the UK make a decent NC lacquer.

[cooperman435]

be warned though that dope often has plasticisers and flame retardants in it too.

[Mumbles]

Powdered NC does have some specialty uses in pyrotechnics.  However, how the powder is obtained should be quite obvious if the original poster actually has any idea what these are. 

[Mortartube]

Even if he doesn't know what it is used for, he could at least give it a shot.

[Peret]

There are different grades of nitrocellulose, depending on whether one, two or three of the -OH ions on each monomer are replaced by -NO3 ions. Which kind you get depends on the strength of the acid used in the process. Lacquers and ping-pong balls use lesser grades of nitration. Only the fully nitrated kind (all three -OH ions) explodes. To make this kind requires exceedingly nasty fuming acids and definitely falls into the "don't try this at home" category. What you get, however, is not a powder. It looks exactly like the material - paper, cotton, woodpulp - that you started with. To powder it, I would dissolve it in acetone, leave it in an open container for the acetone to evaporate and then rasp away the hard glassy residue with a coarse file.

 

Probably the easiest way to get hold of a small quantity of the powdered kind for dragons eggs, etc. is to take it out of a shotgun cartridge. Nearly everyone knows a farmer.

[archaic]

thank you guys, you all helped me. now i know a little about it and i just want to privately chat with you. thank you again.