page_title: Nitrocellulose
section_title: Film
hierarchical_section_title: Nitrocellulose / Film
caption_attribution_description: English: Light box displaying a nitrate photograph negative panorama which is suffering from deterioration. Image shows a military unit in front of a stone building / Négatif panoramique sur support de nitrate, montrant des signes de détérioration, affiché sur un Title / Titre&#160;: Light box displaying a nitrate photograph negative panorama which is suffering from deterioration. Image shows a military unit in front of a stone building / Négatif panoramique sur support de nitrate, montrant des signes de détérioration, affiché sur un négatoscope. L’image représente une unité militaire devant un édifice en pierre Date(s)&#160;: June 21, 2011 / 21 juin 2011 Credit / Mention de source&#160;: Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada Description&#160;: Nitrate Film Preservation Facility / Centre de préservation de pellicule de nitrate
context_page_description: Nitrocellulose is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to nitric acid, or to a mixture of nitric acid and another acid, usually either hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, or to another powerful nitrating agent. One of its first major uses was as guncotton, a replacement for gun powder as propellant in firearms. It was also used to replace gunpowder as a low-order explosive in mining and other applications.
context_section_description: Cellulose is treated with sulfuric acid and potassium nitrate to give cellulose mononitrate. This was used commercially as 'celluloid', a highly flammable plastic used until the mid-20th century for lacquers and photographic film.
  On May 2, 1887, Hannibal Goodwin  filed a patent for "a photographic pellicle and process of producing same ... especially in connection with roller cameras", but the patent was not granted until September 13, 1898. In the meantime, George Eastman had already started production of roll-film using his own process.
  Nitrocellulose was used as the first flexible film base, beginning with Eastman Kodak products in August, 1889. Camphor is used as a plasticizer for nitrocellulose film, often called nitrate film. Goodwin's patent was sold to Ansco, which successfully sued Eastman Kodak for infringement of the patent and was awarded $5,000,000 in 1914 to Goodwin Film.
  Nitrate film was used for X-ray photography for some time, where its hazardous nature was most acute, thus in 1933, became disused for such purposes, along with its uses for motion-picture films in 1951, when it was replaced by cellulose acetate film (commonly known as safety film). Nitrocellulose X-ray film ignition was the cause of the Cleveland Clinic fire of 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio, which claimed the lives of 123 people during the fire and of a number who were rescued but died several days later due to inhalation of toxic smoke.
  The use of nitrocellulose film for motion pictures led to the requirement for fireproof projection rooms with wall coverings made of asbestos. A training film for projectionists included footage of a controlled ignition of a reel of nitrate film, which continued to burn when fully submerged in water. Once burning, it is extremely difficult to extinguish. Unlike many other flammable materials, nitrocellulose does not need air to continue burning, as the material contains sufficient oxygen within its molecular structure. For this reason, immersing burning film in water may not extinguish it, and could actually increase the amount of smoke produced. Owing to public safety precautions, the London Underground forbade transport of movies on its system until well past the introduction of safety film.
  Cinema fires caused by ignition of nitrocellulose film stock were the cause of the 1926 Dromcolliher cinema tragedy in County Limerick in which 48 people died and the 1929 Glen Cinema disaster in Paisley, Scotland, which killed 69 children. Today, nitrate film projection is rare and normally highly regulated and requires extensive precautionary measures including extra projectionist health and safety training. Projectors certified to run nitrate films have many precautions, among them the chambering of the feed and takeup reels in thick metal covers with small slits to allow the film to run through. The projector is modified to accommodate several fire extinguishers with nozzles aimed at the film gate. The extinguishers automatically trigger if a piece of flammable fabric placed near the gate starts to burn. While this triggering would likely damage or destroy a significant portion of the projection components, it would prevent a fire which could cause far greater damage. Projection rooms may be required to have automatic metal covers for the projection windows, preventing the spread of fire to the auditorium. The Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum is one of a few theaters in the world that is capable of safely projecting nitrate films, and regularly screens films to the public.
  Nitrocellulose was found to gradually decompose, releasing nitric acid and further catalyzing the decomposition (eventually into a flammable powder). Decades later, storage at low temperatures was discovered as a means of delaying these reactions indefinitely. The great majority of films produced during the early 20th century are thought to have been lost either through this accelerating, self-catalyzed disintegration or through studio warehouse fires. Salvaging old films is a major problem for film archivists (see film preservation).
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caption: Nitrocellulose film on a light box, showing deterioration, from Library and Archives Canada collection
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