nitrocellulose

ni·tro·cel·lu·lose

N0117000 (nī′trō-sĕl′yə-lōs′, -lōz′)n. Any of various pulpy or cottonlike polymers derived from cellulose treated with nitric and sulfuric acids and used in the manufacture of explosives, lacquers, collodion, celluloid, plastics, and solid monopropellants. Physical properties and use vary with varying nitrogen content of the substance. Also called cellulose nitrate, guncotton, pyroxylin.

ni′tro·cel′lu·los′ic (-lō′sĭk, -zĭk) adj.

nitrocellulose

(ˌnaɪtrəʊˈsɛljʊˌləʊs) n (Elements & Compounds) another name (not in chemical usage) for cellulose nitrate

ni•tro•cel•lu•lose

(ˌnaɪ trəˈsɛl yəˌloʊs)

n. any of a group of nitric esters of cellulose, used in the manufacture of lacquers and explosives. [1880–85] ni`tro•cel`lu•lo′sic, ni`tro•cel′lu•lous, adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

nitrocellulose - a nitric acid ester; used in lacquers and explosivescellulose nitrate, guncotton, nitrocottonblasting gelatin - mixture of guncotton with nitroglycerincordite - explosive powder (nitroglycerin and guncotton and petrolatum) dissolved in acetone and dried and extruded in brown cordscellulose ester - any ester of cellulose with an acidpyrocellulose - nitrocellulose containing less nitrogen than guncotton; used in making smokeless powderpyroxylin, pyroxyline - highly flammable nitrocellulose used in making collodion and plastics and lacquerscelluloid - highly flammable substance made from cellulose nitrate and camphor; used in e.g. motion-picture and X-ray film; its use has decreased with the development of nonflammable thermoplasticsnitrate - any compound containing the nitrate group (such as a salt or ester of nitric acid)

Translations

nitrocellulose

nitrocellulose,

nitric acid esterester,
any one of a group of organic compounds with general formula RCO₂R′ (where R and R′ are alkyl groups or aryl groups) that are formed by the reaction between an alcohol and an acid.
..... Click the link for more information. of cellulosecellulose,
chief constituent of the cell walls of plants. Chemically, it is a carbohydrate that is a high molecular weight polysaccharide. Raw cotton is composed of 91% pure cellulose; other important natural sources are flax, hemp, jute, straw, and wood.
..... Click the link for more information. (a glucose polymer). It is usually formed by the action of a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids on purified cotton or wood pulp. The extent of nitration and degradation (breaking down) of the cellulose is carefully controlled in order to obtain the desired product. When cotton is treated so that nearly all of the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose molecule are esterified, but with little or no degradation of the molecular structure, the nitrocellulose formed is called guncotton. Guncotton resembles cotton in its appearance. Extremely flammable, it explodes when detonated and is used in the manufacture of explosives. Guncotton is insoluble in such common solvents as water, chloroform, ether, and ethanol. If the nitration is not carried to completion (the point at which about two thirds of the hydroxyl groups are esterified), the soluble cellulose nitrate pyroxylinpyroxylin
, partially nitrated cellulose (see nitrocellulose). It is used in lacquers, plastics, and artificial leathers. Pyroxylin lacquers are made by dissolving pyroxylin in a mixture of volatile solvents and adding a plasticizer and a pigment or dye.
..... Click the link for more information. is formed.

nitrocellulose

[¦nī·trō′sel·yə‚lōs] (organic chemistry) cellulose nitrate

cellulose nitrate

A material formed by the reaction of cellulose fibers with nitric and sulfuric acids. Those with lower nitrogen content are used as binders in lacquers and are very inflammable. A high nitrogen content results in nitrocellulose, an explosive.

nitrocellulose

pyroxylin

[pi-rok´sĭ-lin] a product of the action of a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids on cotton; used to make collodion.

py·rox·y·lin

(pi-rok'si-lin), Consists chiefly of cellulose tetranitrate, obtained by the action of nitric and sulfuric acids on cotton; used in the preparation of collodion. Synonym(s): colloxylin, dinitrocellulose, nitrocellulose, soluble gun cotton, xyloidin [pyro- + G. xylon, wood]

nitrocellulose

ni·tro·cel·lu·lose

nitrocellulose

ni•tro•cel•lu•lose

nitrocellulose

nitrocellulose,

nitrocellulose

cellulose nitrate

nitrocellulose

pyroxylin

py·rox·y·lin

nitrocellulose

Synonyms for nitrocellulose

noun a nitric acid ester

Synonyms

Related Words