Nitrocellulos

Cellulose is found in the cell walls of plants and acts as their primary structural component. However, when cellulose was mixed with nitric acid, the compound nitrocellulose was discovered to be highly flammable and even explosive.

Nitrocellulose was used in smokeless gunpowder to replace black powder. The new type of gunpowder produced very little smoke when fired because the combustion products were mainly gaseous. In the 1890s, DuPont de Nemours and Company developed its own smokeless gunpowder and became one of the world’s leading suppliers. Nitrocellulose revolutionized the gunpowder industry and led to the development of the automatic firearm.

Surprisingly, nitrocellulose was also used in old-fashioned films. It was not until later on that people began to realize the highly flammability of the film reels. In the 1920s, scientists introduced the “safety film” made of an acetate base which would ultimately replace nitrate film.

The DuPont Company was also busy in the 1920s developing a nitrocellulose lacquer that would transform the automotive industry. It was a durable, quick-drying finish that allowed an economical way of manufacturing cars.