ABSTRACT
When most people think of nitrocellulose, they think of guncotton, a material that was developed for explosives or gum propellant. But they are only partially correct. Nitrocellulose is one of the oldest and most widely used film formers adaptable to a number of uses. It is derived from cellulose, a material from plants, and therefore a renewable source. Soluble nitrocellulose possesses a unique combination of properties such as toughness, durability, solubility, gloss, and rapid solvent release. As the film former in lacquer systems, it affords protective and decorative coatings for wood and metal. In addition, it finds use in flexible coatings for paper, foil and plastic film, printing inks, and adhesives. This chapter briefly covers the properties, uses, and handling procedures for nitrocellulose and the formulations made from it.
