Editing Nitrocellulose (section)

==Use==
{{anchor|Uses|reason=Old section name, may have incoming links.}}
The principal uses of cellulose nitrate is for the production of [[lacquer]]s and coatings, explosives, and [[celluloid]].<ref name=JEM>{{cite journal |doi=10.1080/07370659008012572|title=A review of the synthesis, chemistry and analysis of nitrocellulose |year=1990 |last1=Saunders |first1=C. W. |last2=Taylor |first2=L. T. |journal=Journal of Energetic Materials |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=149–203 |bibcode=1990JEnM....8..149S }}</ref>

In terms of lacquers and coatings, nitrocellulose dissolves readily in organic solvents, which upon evaporation leave a colorless, transparent, flexible film.<ref name=Ull/> Nitrocellulose lacquers have been used as a finish on furniture and musical instruments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/FAQs/# |title=What is "stand damage"? |access-date=2008-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330203426/http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Support/FAQs/ |archive-date=2008-03-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Guncotton, dissolved at about 25% in [[acetone]], forms a lacquer used in preliminary stages of wood finishing to develop a hard finish with a deep lustre.<ref name="Nitrocellulose"/> It is normally the first coat applied, then it is sanded and followed by other coatings that bond to it.

[[Nail polish]] contains nitrocellulose, as it is inexpensive, dries quickly to a hard film, and does not damage skin.<ref>{{Ullmann|first1=Günther|last1=Schneider|first2=Sven|last2=Gohla|first3=Jörg|last3=Schreiber|first4=Waltraud|last4=Kaden|first5=Uwe|last5=Schönrock|first6=Hartmut|last6=Schmidt‐Lewerkühne|first7=Annegret|last7=Kuschel|first8=Xenia|last8=Petsitis|first9=Wolfgang|last9=Pape|first10=Hellmut|last10=Ippen|first11=Walter|last11=Diembeck|title=Skin Cosmetics|doi=10.1002/14356007.a24_219|date=2000|isbn=978-3-527-30385-4}}</ref>

The explosive applications are diverse and nitrate content is typically higher for propellant applications than for coatings.<ref name="JEM" />  For space flight, nitrocellulose was used by [[Copenhagen Suborbitals]] on several missions as a means of jettisoning components of the rocket/space capsule and deploying recovery systems.  However, after several missions and flights, it proved not to have the desired explosive properties in a near vacuum environment.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/10/in-space-no-one-can-hear-your-nitrocellulose-explode |title=In Space No One Can Hear your Nitrocellulose Explode|magazine=Wired|date=2013-10-21|last1=Bengtson|first1=Kristian von}}</ref>  In 2014, the [[Philae (spacecraft)|Philae]] comet lander failed to deploy its harpoons because its 0.3 grams of nitrocellulose propulsion charges failed to fire during the landing.<ref name="ingenioren20141113">{{cite news |url=http://ing.dk/artikel/esa-skrev-til-danske-raketbyggere-om-eksplosiv-problem-paa-philae-172274 |title=ESA skrev til danske raketbyggere om eksplosiv-problem på Philae |trans-title=ESA wrote to Danish rocket builders about explosive problem on Philae|work=[[Ingeniøren]] |language=da |first=Thomas |last=Djursing |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>

=== Other uses ===
Collodion, a solution of nitrocellulose, is used today in topical skin applications, such as [[liquid bandage|liquid skin]] and in the application of [[salicylic acid]], the active ingredient in Compound W wart remover. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://newskinproducts.com/products/new-skin-liquid-bandage | title=All-in-One New-Skin® Liquid Bandage }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.compoundw.com/products/compound-w-fast-acting-wart-removal-liquid#ingredients | title=Compound W® Fast Acting Wart Removal Liquid }}</ref>{{cn|date=March 2023}}

====Laboratory uses====
* [[Membrane technology|Membrane filters]] made of a mesh of nitrocellulose threads with various porosities are used in laboratory procedures for particle retention and cell capture in liquid or gaseous solutions and, reversely, obtaining particle-free filtrates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sartorius.com/en/products/lab-filtration-purification/membranes|title=Sartorius Membrane filters|date=143 }}</ref>
* A [[nitrocellulose slide]], nitrocellulose membrane, or nitrocellulose paper is a sticky [[artificial membrane|membrane]] used for immobilizing nucleic acids in [[southern blot]]s and [[northern blot]]s. It is also used for immobilization of proteins in [[western blot]]s and [[atomic force microscopy]]<ref>{{cite journal|first=L.|last=Kreplak|display-authors=etal|title=Atomic Force Microscopy of Mammalian Urothelial Surface|journal=Journal of Molecular Biology|volume=374|issue=2|date=2007|pages=365–373|doi=10.1016/j.jmb.2007.09.040|pmid=17936789|pmc=2096708}}</ref> for its nonspecific affinity for [[amino acids]]. Nitrocellulose is widely used as support in diagnostic tests where antigen-antibody binding occurs; e.g., [[pregnancy test]]s, [[U-albumin]] tests, and [[C-reactive protein| CRP]] tests. [[Glycine]] and [[chloride]] ions make protein transfer more efficient.
* [[Radon]] tests for alpha track etches use nitrocellulose.
* [[Adolph Noé]] developed a method of peeling [[coal ball]]s using nitrocellulose.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Adolf Carl Noe|last1=Kraus|first1=E. J.|journal=Botanical Gazette|volume=101|date=September 1939|jstor=2472034|issue=1|pages=231|doi=10.1086/334861|bibcode=1939Sci....89..379C|s2cid=84787772}}</ref>
* It is used to coat [[playing cards]] and to bind staples together in office [[stapler]]s.

====Hobbies====
*In 1846, nitrated cellulose was found to be soluble in [[diethyl ether|ether]] and [[ethanol|alcohol]].  The solution was named [[collodion]] and was soon used as a dressing for wounds.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Schönbein |first=C. F. |date=1849 |title=On ether glue or ''liquor constringens''; and its uses in surgery |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORZAAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA289 |journal=The Lancet |volume=1 |issue=1333 |pages=289–290 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(02)66777-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Maynard |first=John Parker |date=1848 |title=Discovery and application of the new liquid adhesive plaster |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tNI9AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA178 |journal=The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal |volume=38 |issue=9 |pages=178–183 |doi=10.1056/nejm184803290380903}}</ref>

*In 1851, [[Frederick Scott Archer]] invented the wet [[collodion process]] as a replacement for [[albumen]] in early [[photography|photographic]] emulsions, binding light-sensitive [[silver halide]]s to a glass plate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/history/collodio.htm |first=R. |last=Leggat |website=A History of Photography |title=The Collodion Process}}</ref>
*[[Magic (illusion)|Magicians]]' flash paper are sheets of paper consisting of pure nitrocellulose, which burn almost instantly with a bright flash, leaving no ash or smoke.
* As a medium for cryptographic [[one-time pad]]s, they make the disposal of the pad complete, secure, and efficient.
* Nitrocellulose lacquer is spin-coated onto aluminium or glass discs, then a groove is cut with a lathe, to make one-off phonograph records, used as masters for pressing or for play in dance clubs. They are referred to as [[acetate disc]]s.
* Depending on the manufacturing process, nitrocellulose is [[Esterification|esterified]] to varying degrees. [[Table tennis]] balls, [[guitar]] picks, and some photographic films have fairly low esterification levels and burn comparatively slowly with some charred residue.
[[File:40mm table tennis ball Celluloid.jpg|thumb|[[Table tennis]] ball, prepared from nitrocellulose (Celluloid)]]