andrea - 18-9-2003 at 12:09
Hi, today I've made some nitrocellulose.
I've read that NC may be dissolved in acetone. Why should I do such a thing? What should I do with dissolved NC?
As I'm sure not all the cotton has been nitrated, is there a method to separate the unnitrated cotton from pure NC (as using some solvants and so
on...)?
Haggis - 18-9-2003 at 12:40
Dissolved NC is a way of casting HE charges for higher density. The acetone is then evaporated off. A higher percentage of acetone (70/30
acetone-NC) is used in pyrotechnics as waterproofing, and can find some use as a binding compound
Dissolving the NC in acetone is the way to separate un-nitrated cotton.
KABOOOM(pyrojustforfun) - 21-9-2003 at 19:24
it is advised to recrystalize solid nitrate esters not just for purify or getting desired crystal size/shape but to neutralize. NC can lock the acid
inside its Fluffy crystals. you already know that traces of acid catalyzes the decomposition of nitrate esters. do a second bicarb wash after
crystalization.