Leo enticknap, the film industrys conversion from nitrate to safety film in the late. Whatman offers a variety cellulose membranes for multiple applications. Understanding f how i decays national film preservation. Safe handling, storage, and destruction of nitrate based motion picture films this publication will help you understand the requirements to safely handle, store, transport, and destroy cellulose nitrate based films. The introduction of safety film in 1923 addressed the flammability issue by replacing cellulose nitrate film with cellulose acetate. Cellulose, however, may be chemically treated so that the modified products may be dissolved and the solution may then either be cast into film or spun into fiber. Nitrocellulose, also called cellulose nitrate, a mixture of nitric esters of cellulose, and a highly flammable compound that is the main ingredient of modern gunpowder and is also employed in certain lacquers and paints.
When used as a propellant or loworder explosive, it. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was the basis of the earliest manmade fibres and plastic materials. The variety of objects made from cellulose nitrate includes cutlery handles french ivory and ivorylike substitutes, drafting setsquares and drawing templates, toys and dolls, photographic film, eyeglass frames, protective and decorative lacquers, and many other cosmetic, toiletry, and household items ranging from buttons to toilet seats. Decomposing films stored in metal film cans may also be covered in very fine brown. Film stock with a nitrate base was the first transparent flexible plasticized base commercially available, thanks to celluloid developments by john carbutt, hannibal goodwin, and eastman kodak in the 1880s. It shrinks, even to the point of becoming unusable. Decayed nitrate film is even more volatile, and can selfignite at temperatures over 100 degrees fahrenheit. A permit is required to store, handle or use cellulose nitrate film in the following quantities. Cellulose nitrate film, a product once widely used in cinema but ceasing production nearly 70 years ago, is by no means a pillar of the modern industry. The film is a cellulose nitrate film, 10 to 20 microns in thickness, cast from a solution of cellulose nitrate in tetrahydrofuran, said solution containing from 7 to 15 percent, by weight, of dioctyl phthalate, said cellulose nitrate having a nitrogen content of from 10 to percent. Identifying and handling nitrate film association of moving image. A common additive used in nitrate film, camphor, is also highly flammable further compounding the problem.
The first clue to identifying cellulose nitrate based films in a collection is gauge or width of the film. Method of producing thin cellulose nitrate filmpatent doe. Despite the known hazards, nitrate sheet film remained in widespread use until the mid1930s, though use of nitrate roll and motion picture film persisted until the early 1950s. Safe handling, storage, and destruction of nitrate based motion picture films this publication will help you understand the requirements to safely handle, store, transport, and destroy cellulose nitrate. Flammability was one of the main drawbacks with nitrate motion picture film. Recent examples on the web but almost all cellulose nitrate film has selfdestructed in the last 100 years. Enamel is basically a glass colored by the addition of metal oxides and fused onto a metal base. Pyroxylin solution appears as a solution in absolute ethanol or another organic solvent of cellulose nitrate nitrocellulose that contains 11. Hazards nitrate can be very dangerous, mainly because it is highly flammable. Innovative process produces biodegradable cellulosebased films. Because cellulose nitrate contains oxygen, nitrate fires can be very difficult to extinguish. Aug 17, 2015 cellulose nitrate negatives throughout our travels we have come across a few archives that were unaware they had cellulose nitrate in their collection or that film based photographic material can be made of cellulose nitrate. During the abnormally hot summer of 1949, numerous fires involving cellulose nitrate motion picture films were reported in new york city and adjacent areas.
Disposal of cellulose nitrate film introduction cellulose nitrate nitrate film was manufactured from about 19101950 for use as a nonbreakable, lightweight alternative to glass plate photographic negatives. In fact, nitrate film, first manufactured by eastman kodak in 1889 and continued to be made until. Kodak began working with acetate safety film as early as 1909, and started selling it in 1910 for 22 mm film. Furthermore, as the film breaks down, it gives off nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other gases that yellow the film base, yellow and soften gelatin, and oxidize the silver image. As nouns the difference between celluloid and cellulose is that celluloid is any of a variety of thermoplastics created from nitrocellulose and camphor, once used as photographic film while cellulose is a complex carbohydrate that forms the main constituent of the cell wall in most plants and is important in the. Cellulose nitrate has a characteristic acid odor, similar to that of nitric acid. Cellulose nitrate was first used as a base for photographic roll film by george eastman in 1889.
The emulsion becomes adhesive and films stick together. The danger of such ignition is reduced by inspecting stored film stocks and removing and destroying all decomposing film. Nfpa 402019 is the 2019 edition of the standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film the very existence of this american national standard might seem strange. Disposal of cellulose nitrate film national park service. Digitization and preservation of cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate negatives posted on july 10, 20 by albumenworks before polyester film became readily available in the 1950s, all flexible film negatives were made on some form of cellulose nitrate or cellulose acetate support. The rate of decomposition of cellulose nitrate films roughly doubles with every increase of six degrees centigrade, so the higher the storage temperature, the faster the film will deteriorate. Pdf the film industrys conversion from nitrate to safety film in. A number of institutions have patterned their film storage after these regulations.
Cellulose nitrate film, normally just called nitrate film, has a base that is a completely different type of animal. The solvent may evaporate if the solution is spilled, leaving a plastic film that is easily ignited and burns very vigorously. They were developed to replace glass plate negatives, and used for black and white motion pictures. To kick off monday night nitrates, our new weekly photograph series, m. In photographic archives, active preservation efforts focus on the film based materials. Storage temperatures therefore need to be as cold as possible. Decomposing nitrate film can ignite spontaneously at temperatures as low as 120f. When used as a propellant or loworder explosive, it was originally known as guncotton partially nitrated cellulose has found uses as. At the same time, amateur films were coated on cellulose diacetate. Disposal of nitratebased motion picture film motion. Because of its instability, its use for cinematography was limited in 1912 and banned in 1951. It is impossible to put out a nitrate fire but according to legend it can be put out within the first 10 seconds of catching alight.
Department of transportation dot has classified cellulose nitrate film as a hazardous material. Motion picture or sound recording film that is coated on a support or base consisting essentially of cellulose nitrate. In 2011, construction of library and archives canadas lac new nitrate film preservation facility nfpf was complete. Introduction to nitrate film national science and media. The requirements of this standard, therefore, apply strictly to longterm storage of cellulose nitrate film. Not all nitrate film has decomposed, some is actually in excellent condition. Nitrate film burns at a higher temperature than even. Checklist for cellulose nitrate film storage definition of cellulose nitrate film. The truth is we need to convert films to digital now to stop the degradation of the image that.
When used as a propellant or loworder explosive, it is also known as guncotton. How do i determine whether film is nitrate, cellulose ester. Safety film was the name given to cellulose acetate, the base material that replaced cellulose nitrate. It will be marked as nitrate along the edge of the 35mm film, below the sprocket holes. When motion picture film was introduced in the 1890s, cellulose nitrate was the only available transparent plastic durable enough for movie cameras and projectors.
We realize and respect the importance of early films that captured our past, and have developed a safe environment to transfer the film. Health and safety executive the dangers of cellulose nitrate film page 3 of 6 a noticeable acrid odour that may range from being a faintly irritating smell to strongly irritating fumes. The film industrys conversion from nitrate to safety film in the late 1940s. Title 49, code of federal regulations 49cfr, parts 100 through 185, govern the transportation of hazardous materials. There are five stages in the decomposition of nitrate film. There are three broad types of film based photographic materials. Nitrate degradation is a slow chemical process that occurs because of two factors. Store deteriorated cellulose nitrate films separate from other cellulose nitrate films. The process uses nitric acid to convert cellulose into cellulose nitrate and water. Preserving nitrate negatives chicago history museum.
Cellulose nitrate definition of cellulose nitrate by. Major industrial polymers major industrial polymers cellulose nitrate. Unfortunately, nitrate film is a severe fire safety hazard. Cellulose acetate film, or safety film, is used in photography as a base material for photographic emulsions. Cellulose nitrate has been used to repair crazed enamel.
We are committed to saving our visual history whenever possible identifying nitrate film. Nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and nitrous dioxide are all released as gases from the decomposition of cellulose nitrate. Cellulose acetate membranes are made from pure cellulose acetate, making them suitable for biological and clinical analysis, sterility tests, and scintillation. Nitrocellulose is a name for several products obtained by treating cellulose with a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulphuric acids. History, science, preservation and treatment of cellulose. Cellulose nitrate film permit requirements appendix chapter 1, section 105. Once you convert an image from nitrate onto modern safetybase film, the safetybase image replaces the nitrate image as the museum object. Nitrate film was used for xray photography for some time, where its hazardous nature was most acute, thus in 1933, became disused for such purposes, along with its uses for motionpicture films in 1951, when it was replaced by cellulose acetate film commonly known as safety film. It is made from nitrocellulose, also called cellulose nitrate, and is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to. Nitrate can be very dangerous, mainly because it is highly flammable. Highly flammable, cellulose nitrate base film was phased out in the early 1950s. Despite the dangers of the nitrate film base being known practically since its development, it was used in virtually all major motion pictures prior to 1952, when kodak completed a fouryear conversion program to the sole manufacturing of acetate base film stocks. Do not exceed 70 f inside the storage vault, and maintain the relative humidity below 50. Cellulose nitrate was also used for photographic film from the 1880s to 1920s and animated drawing cels.
A colorless flammable material made from nitrocellulose and camphor and used to make photographic film. Nitrocellulose one source states nitrocellulose is a mixture of polymeric nitrate esters, and that three types of nitrocellulose are recognized. Management of cellulose nitrate and cellulose ester film. Nitrocellulose also known as cellulose nitrate, flash paper, flash cotton, guncotton, and flash string is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. Cellulose nitrate film stock was in commercial use through the early 1950s, when it was replaced by cellulose acetate plastic safety film. Cellulose nitrate releases toxic gas that quickly eats away at any film stored without proper ventilation. Cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate are the two types of unstable plastics used as the support for photographic film. The film contains gas bubbles and gives off a noxious odour. These materials have been used as a support for negatives, positive transparencies, motion pictures, microfilm, and other photographic products. Cellulose nitrate is also used as a coating material in fastdrying automobile lacquers, on the cloth used to cover hardbound books, and as a leather covering. Film with a nitrate base is often called nitrate film. Cellulose disease definition of cellulose disease by.
Unfortunately, cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetates are unstable. Mar 03, 2009 professional films were often coated on cellulose nitrate, which is the nasty, inflamable and almost unextinguishable stuff. This includes unexposed film, positive prints, negatives, or used film. Jun 08, 2016 food scientists srinivas janaswamy and qin xu hold a brick atop the biodegradable film they produced from cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls. Cellulose nitrate nitrate film was manufactured from about 19101950 for use as a nonbreakable, lightweight alternative to glass plate photographic negatives. Once you convert an image from nitrate onto modern safetybase film, the safety base image replaces the nitrate image as the museum object. In the presence of atmospheric moisture, these gases combine with water to form nitric acid.
Nitrocellulose xray film ignition was the cause of the. Lily rothman, time, this mysterious longlost film of the brooklyn bridge wasnt seen for a century, 18 may 2018. Major industrial polymers cellulose nitrate britannica. Storage and handing of processed nitrate film motion. Conserveogram 222 disposal of cellulose nitrate film. Standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate. Whatman cellulose membranes clarification and final. Paper is made of cellulose, and in this video, ill be converting it into a plastic.
Nov 03, 2011 cellulose nitrate was first used as a base for photographic roll film by george eastman in 1889. Safety assessment of nitrocellulose and collodion as used in. Cellulose nitrate definition of cellulose nitrate by the. Leo enticknap, the film industrys conversion from nitrate to safety film in. A film base is a transparent substrate which acts as a support medium for the photosensitive. How to spot and handle dangerous nitrate film everpresent. Standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film. Camphormodified cellulose nitrate has been known for over 120 years, and it still retains its use in a few specialized applications. Nitrate film burns rapidly, is fueled by its own oxygen, and releases toxic fumes. Document any problems in the space including odors, discomfort, or ill effects noticed. The dangerous beauty of cellulose nitrate film bbc.
An operational permit is required to store, handle or use cellulose nitrate film in a group a occupancy. By treatment of the film or fiber, the cellulose derivative may be converted back regenerated into cellulose although the processing involves reduction in molar mass. Its so flammable that it even burns underwater, and improper storage makes the fire risk even worse. Spontaneous ignition of decomposing cellulose nitrate film. Display and storage of museum objects containing cellulose. Cellulose nitratetransparent plastic used as the base in the earliest 35mm film stock.
In the early part of the twentieth century, it was widely used for combs. The earliest of the ester polymers was cellulose nitrate. Base polymers nfsa national film and sound archive. Early safety films made of cellulose acetate compounds had higher burning points but were more expensive and less durable than nitrate film. It is highly flammable and also decomposes with age, becoming toxic. Motion picture film can be made of various materials and by different processes and both material and process inform storage, handling, and duplication recommendations. Cellulose nitrate used for film is highly nitrated, this means that the polymer is. It was introduced in the early 20th century by film manufacturers and intended as a safe film base replacement for unstable and highly flammable nitrate film. Nitrate captures the ephemeral, transforming it into a record that can be interpreted. Cellulose nitrate based films were produced in the early 20th century until 1952. Identifying and handling nitrate film december 2008 here is some basic information about how to identify nitrate film, the hazards of handling nitrate film and information about shipping and housing nitrate film. You may see nitrate film, safety film or just the letter s, which also was used on safety film. Preserving your collection of filmbased photographic.
Mellon director of collections, describes the effort to assess, preserve, and digitize our collection of approximately 35,000 nitrate negatives. This building was constructed following the national fire protection associations standard for the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate film nfpa 40 and, as such, lac had to follow certain rules. Celluloid definition of celluloid by the free dictionary. Cellulose nitrate film is one material that is often demonized due to its combustible chemical composition. Cellulose nitrate, or nitrocellulose membranes are recommended for the majority of routine applications. Nitrate film burns at a higher temperature than even gasoline. The 19thcentury development that allowed for the nitration of cellulose fibres obtained from cotton linters may constitute the advent of plastics. The reaction is first order and proceeds by electrophilic substitution at the c. Cellulose nitrate polymer was used to create a silver bromide and silver iodide image emulsion that was panchromatic. Diacetate did not have the flammability problems of nitrate, but was more susceptible to turn into acetic acid vinagering. Jul 17, 20 the ability to separate the image emulsion layer from a deteriorated acetate film base relies on the presence of cellulose nitrate subbing layers between the emulsion, support, and anticurl layers of the negative. Evaluating the extent of deterioration the nitrate film you have in storage may be middleaged, but if it was properly stored, it may be quite usable. For that purpose we exposed a glass slide containing 20 layers of cellulose in the mersey tunnel, where for a period of two weeks carbonaceous soot particles which originated from car exhausts, deposited onto the film.
First, old film made of cellulose nitrate has a tendency to deteriorate and decompose. It has been the consensus of opinion of authorities that these regulations, if rigorously carried out, take care of the fire hazard and the gas hazard in the case of cellulose nitrate xray films. The multilayered cellulose films can be used to give valuable insights for the removal of carbonaceous soil from cellulose. Nitrocellulose and cellulose, nitrate are listed as technical names for collodion, and cellulose, nitrate is also listed as a technical name for nitrocellulose. The formation of nitric acid acts to further degrade cellulose nitrate film.
Cellulose triacetatestrongest acetate film base used for motion picture film. In 1889, the eastman kodak company introduced the first commercially available cellulose nitrate film as an alternative to the more more. Care, handling, and storage of motion picture film. Cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate film bases are chemically unstable and require special action to minimize the risk of total. The main use was in movie and photography film industries, which used only celluloid film stock prior to the adoption of acetate safety film in the 1950s. Celluloid is easily molded and shaped, and it was first widely used as an ivory replacement. Storing and handling cellulose nitrate film with nfpa 40. In 1950, just two years after kodak introduced a greatly improved safety film made of cellulose triacetate, the company stopped making nitrocellulose film.
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