Nitrocellulose + Metals

Crazy Chainsaw

Philosopher
Crazy Chainsaw
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Aug 12, 2006
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My Question to everyone is can Nitrocellulose react to small particles of Metal if Atmospheric oxygen is not present to form an oxide layer on the metal?
 
Cellulose nitrate gradually decomposes producing nitric acid, which will react with most metals.
 
catsmate said:
Cellulose nitrate gradually decomposes producing nitric acid, which will react with most metals.
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That's what I thought now Image if you have fine metal particles of, Lead, forming Lead Nitrate, Zinc, or Nickel, in a cartridge shell?
 
Lplus said:
Is free oxygen also liberated?
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Nitric oxides IIRR. Basically from the nitric acid decomposing (it'a not particularly stable).

Crazy Chainsaw said:
That's what I thought now Image if you have fine metal particles of, Lead, forming Lead Nitrate, Zinc, or Nickel, in a cartridge shell?
Click to expand...
You'd get various metal nitrates, in very small quantities (the acid doesn't persist). Plus a tiny amount of hydrogen which immediately oxidises to water and Nitrogen (IV) oxide.

Nitric acid is a potent oxidising agent, so it behaves rather differently than other mineral acids.
 
catsmate said:
Nitric oxides IIRR. Basically from the nitric acid decomposing (it'a not particularly stable).


You'd get various metal nitrates, in very small quantities (the acid doesn't persist). Plus a tiny amount of hydrogen which immediately oxidises to water and Nitrogen (IV) oxide.

Nitric acid is a potent oxidising agent, so it behaves rather differently than other mineral acids.
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Thank you.
 
I would like to point out that nitrocellulose is a dangerous material and not to be trifled with. It is prone to spontaneous detonated if stored improperly, or indeed at all.

There are still major incidents involving nitrocellulose, for example the Tianjin explosions a decade ago, with around a thousand casualties, the Castenaso explosion in 2002 and the Bergerac explosion two years ago.
 
catsmate said:
I would like to point out that nitrocellulose is a dangerous material and not to be trifled with. It is prone to spontaneous detonated if stored improperly, or indeed at all.

There are still major incidents involving nitrocellulose, for example the Tianjin explosions a decade ago, with around a thousand casualties, the Castenaso explosion in 2002 and the Bergerac explosion two years ago.
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Thank you and yes I know.
 
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