8011. Pyroxylin

Nomenclature

CAS number: 9004-70-0
Cellulose nitrate; nitrocellulose; collodion cotton; soluble gun cotton; collodion wool; colloxylin; xyloidin; celloidin; Parlodion (Mallinckrodt).

Description and references

Variable mixture which consists chiefly of cellulose tetranitrate. Review: R. T. Bogan et al. in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 5 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 3rd ed., 1979) pp 129-143.

Properties

Yellowish-white, matted mass of filaments, having the appearance of raw cotton. Highly flammable; pyroxlin with higher nitrogen content may explode! When kept in well-closed containers and exposed to light it dec. Sol in 25 parts of a mixture of 1 vol alcohol and 3 vols ether; also sol in methanol, acetone, glacial acetic acid, amyl acetate. Keep loosely packed in cartons and protected from light and moisture. Can be shipped with safety only when wet with 25-30% water or alcohol.

Use

In manuf of collodions; in lacquer coatings, inks, adhesives. Cellulose hexanitrate is used in explosives and propellants. Celloidin is used for embedding sections in microscopy; in electrotechnics, photography, galvanoplasty.

Therapeutic Category

Topical protectant.

Keywords

Topical Protectant