Sciencemadness Discussion Board

nitrocellulose lacqure... WTF

cipi - 11-11-2012 at 18:18

I made it. The first time it was poorly nitrated. Second time highly nitrated with only about 5% seen as miniature particals of fibers that were absorbed into acetone. My question is why the heck isnt it drying clearly? I wasted my time nitrating this crap for a crumbly flaky cloudy finish. I was expecting it to by translucent and clear.

Jesse Pinkman - 12-11-2012 at 01:42

I'm afraid that you picked up the wrong section of the forum : there is special section for discussion of energetic materials
https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/forumdisplay.php?fid=...
so don't be surprised if your thread get moved.

What do you use for nitration - conc.H2SO4/KNO3, oleum/fuming HNO3 or conc.H2SO4/HNO3 ?

cipi - 12-11-2012 at 02:10

Nitric acid and sulfuric acid. 100 ml nitric acid and 250 ml sulfuric acid. I used only 2 cotton balls broken down into small peices. No cooling was used and nitration continued for two more cotton balls. Im pretty sure i need to filter it but im sure it wont help.

watson.fawkes - 12-11-2012 at 09:21

Quote: Originally posted by cipi  
Im pretty sure i need to filter it but im sure it wont help.
You're seeing small fiber particles and you think filtering won't help. Did I get that right?

TheChemINC - 12-11-2012 at 18:00

what concentrations of each acid did you use?

feacetech - 12-11-2012 at 18:39

His acid must be weak

two cotton wool balls and 350 mL of mixed acid!

35:65 70% HNO3 : 98% H2SO4

Cool after mixing

add cotton wool use a glas rod to help saturate

swirl several times over 15+ mins

wash in large volume of water to avoid over heating

neutralise in boiling sodium bicarb

boil in distilled water until pH 7 ish

blot dry several times

quick oven dry (at ur own risk, I will dry for about 5mins in a mositure oven) and desicate or just desicate

I have Nitrated several cotton wall balls with 100 mL

With no unnitrated cotton left over if i dissolve in aectone



[Edited on 13-11-2012 by feacetech]

[Edited on 13-11-2012 by feacetech]