what is nitrocellulose lacquer made of

What Is Nitrocellulose Lacquer?

• Composition. Nitrocellulose lacquer is made by taking cotton and treating it with sulfuric and nitric acid, generating an acidic pulp, which can be strained to produce a watery resin.
• Uses. Nitrocellulose lacquer was initially marketed as a fast-drying alternative to wood treatments such as shellac and varnishes.
• Dangers. ...
• History. ...
• Considerations. ...

Full Answer

What is nitnitrocellulose lacquer?

Nitrocellulose lacquer Manufactured by (among others) DuPont, the finish was the primary material for painting automobiles for many years. Durability of finish, complexities of "multiple stage" modern finishes, and other factors including environmental regulation led manufacturers to chose newer technologies.

What is nitrocellulose made of?

Infobox references. 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.

Do all vintage guitars have nitrocellulose lacquer?

Although the vast majority of vintage guitars had nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, many didn’t. Some had finishes that were part nitro and part acrylic, nitro and polyester or even a combination of all three. Around 1963, Fender began using a clear polyester sealer called Fullerplast.

Is nitrocellulose lacquer better than shellac?

Not long afterward, nitrocellulose lacquer replaced shellac and oil-based varnishes and became the preferred finish and the industry standard for furniture and cabinet manufacturers. The benefits for large and small production shops are considerable: nitrocellulose lacquer is relatively inexpensive and dries quickly.

Is nitrocellulose lacquer plastic?

They don't turn nitrocellulose into a 'plastic finish' because nitrocellulose is, after all, a type of plastic. It's understandable that paint makers and guitar manufacturers wanted their finishes to look good for as long as possible.

What is nitrocellulose made from?

Nitrocellulose is made by treating cellulose with a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids. This changes the hydroxyl groups (–OH) in the cellulose to nitro groups (–NO3) as shown in Fig. 13.4. Nitrocellulose, also know as gun cotton and the main ingredient of smokeless gunpowder, decomposes explosively.

Is nitrocellulose better than polyurethane?

Nitrocellulose is considered to be more porous than polyester or polyurethane, with a thin, smooth and somewhat slippery texture that isn't quite as solid or constrictive. Many purists and luthiers therefore believe that a nitro finish allows a guitar's wood to breathe, yielding a more open sound and greater sustain.

Is nitrocellulose lacquer toxic?

► Inhaling Nitrocellulose can irritate the nose and throat. ► Exposure can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

How do you make nitrocellulose lacquer?

0:147:45Homemade Nitro-Cellulose Lacquer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOut 2 cups of the acetone. Doing this outdoors I do not want to be breathing. These fumes that areMoreOut 2 cups of the acetone. Doing this outdoors I do not want to be breathing. These fumes that are letting them accumulate in yours. Got a nice stainless steel bowl. And the wire whisk.

How do you make nitrocellulose at home?

Nitrocellulose Preparation In a fume hood, mix equal parts nitric and sulfuric acid in a beaker. Drop cotton balls into the acid. You can tamp them down using a glass stirring rod. Don't use metal.

Does fender still use nitrocellulose?

Fender still uses nitrocellulose lacquer finishes on a select group of instruments (Road Worn™ and American Vintage series, various artist models).

How can you tell nitrocellulose from polyurethane?

1:369:15Polyurethane Vs Nitrocellulose Lacquer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThan that you say it was like it's more pump resistant doesn't scratch as easily. And it doesn'tMoreThan that you say it was like it's more pump resistant doesn't scratch as easily. And it doesn't react so much to temperature it also doesn't yellow nitrocellulose lacquer on the other hand.

Does nitrocellulose lacquer yellow?

Nitrocellulose lacquers are notorious for yellowing, if at all possible you may want to consider using a cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) acrylic blend. These types of lacquers have been used in the automotive paint industry for many, many years with minimal color change.

What dissolves nitrocellulose lacquer?

e. they completely dissolve in such solvents as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and amyl alcohols.

Is nitrocellulose lacquer explosive?

While not nearly as volatile or explosive as dynamite, nitrocellulose lacquer is extremely flammable and produces fumes when it's being used that can easily ignite.

What does lacquer do to your body?

This may result in infection, shock and death, even several months after substance was swallowed. Scar tissue in the affected areas can lead to long-term problems with breathing, swallowing, and digestion. Prolonged exposure to lacquer fumes can cause serious, long-term problems in the lungs and brain.

Why is nitrocellulose used in nail polish?

Nitrocellulose is a film forming polymer which means that it creates a film on top of your nail (once the solvents have evaporated) and it holds all of the components in the nail polish together.

Is cellulose nitrate natural?

The very first synthetic polymer came about when a scientist reacted cellulose, in the form of cotton, with nitric acid. The result was cellulose nitrate.

What is nitrocellulose?

Nitrocellulose (also known as cellulose nitrate, flash paper, flash cotton, guncotton, pyroxylin and flash string, depending on form) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid. One of its first major uses was as guncotton, ...

When did nitrocellulose start being made?

Commercial production started in 1891, but the result was flammable and more expensive than cellulose acetate or cuprammonium rayon. Because of this predicament, production ceased early in the 1900s. Nitrocellulose was briefly known as "mother-in-law silk".

What is nail polish made of?

Nail polish is made from nitrocellulose lacquer as it is inexpensive, dries quickly, and is not damaging to skin. Nitrocellulose lacquer is spin-coated onto aluminum or glass discs, then a groove is cut with a lathe, to make one-off phonograph records, used as masters for pressing or for play in dance clubs.

What is a membrane filter made of?

Membrane filters made of a mesh of nitrocellulose threads with various porosity are used in laboratory procedures for particle retention and cell capture in liquid or gaseous solutions and, reversely, obtaining particle-free filtrates.

What is the purpose of nitrogencellulose?

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.

What is cellulose nitrate used for?

The principal use of cellulose nitrate is for the production of explosives, lacquers, and celluloid. The explosive applications are discussed below. In terms of lacquers, nitrocellulose dissolves readily in organic solvents, which upon evaporation leave a colorless, transparent, flexible film.

How is nitration controlled?

The acid mixture was changed to two parts sulfuric acid to one part nitric. Nitration can be controlled by adjusting acid concentrations and reaction temperature. Nitrocellulose is soluble in a mixture of ethanol and ether until nitrogen concentration exceeds 12%.

What is nitrocellulose lacquer?

Furniture and musical instrument manufacturers also switched to nitrocellulose lacquer, and mostly it was referred to simply as ‘lacquer’. Pretty much every collectible acoustic and electric guitar made up until the mid-1960s left the factory with a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Advertisement.

Why doesn't nitrocellulose paint turn into plastic?

They don’t turn nitrocellulose into a ‘plastic finish’ because nitrocellulose is, after all, a type of plastic. It’s understandable that paint makers and guitar manufacturers wanted their finishes to look good for as long as possible.

What finish did Fender use?

Fender used both, and Olympic White, alongside all the Fender metallic finishes, was actually acrylic. Mostly, Fender sprayed nitrocellulose clear coats over the acrylic coats, and because the clear coats yellowed and checked over the years, many people have assumed wrongly that these finishes were pure nitrocellulose.

What was the sealer used on Fender cars?

Around 1963, Fender began using a clear polyester sealer called Fullerplast. After dying the bodies yellow, they were dipped in Fullerplast, which dried rapidly to form a flat coating for nitrocellulose to be sprayed on top. This eliminated the need for grain filling and meant the expensive nitro could be sprayed thinner without sinking into the grain – so Fullerplast saved Fender time and money.

What finishes did vintage guitars have?

Some had finishes that were part nitro and part acrylic, nitro and polyester or even a combination of all three.

Why are placticisers not plastic?

So placticisers are solvents that evaporate slowly over several years to prevent nitrocellulose from becoming too brittle. They don’t turn nitrocellulose into a ‘plastic finish’ because nitrocellulose is, after all, a type of plastic.

Why does lacquer yellow?

Old lacquer was seen as having certain undesirable traits. It tended to yellow up with exposure to UV light; colour pigments often faded; temperature fluctuations caused cracking (checking) and sometimes, the lacquer would start flaking off the body. Curtis Novak is a man who knows as much about vintage finishes as he does about pickup making, and he explained some of the changes to us.

What is Nitrocellulose lacquer used for?

Nitrocellulose lacquer is also used as an aircraft dope, painted onto fabric- covered aircraft to tauten and provides protection to the material.

Why is nitrocellulose used in film?

Commonly, due to its fragility, nitrocellulose is more frequently employed for the assembly of multi layered film structures [59]. Historically, nitrocellulose was first explored as an immobilization matrix for biomolecules, such as DNA and proteins, for the development of lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs).

When were lacquers invented?

Modern lacquers, which were introduced in 1925, are solutions of cellulose nitrate. These coatings dry by evaporation of the solvent. Pigmented nitrocellulose lacquers were used as finishes for automobiles in 1913. Cellulose nitrate lacquers of higher solids content were hot-sprayed in the 1940s.

Which is more sensitive, CR 39 or cellulose nitrate?

The least ionizing ion is 0.55 MeV protons (Daicell). Fleischer (1981) showed that the least ionizing ion seen was 1.2 MeV protons for cellulose nitrate (VEB Eilenburg). In this case, the cellulose nitrate is more sensitive than CR-39.

When did cellulose nitrate coatings become popular?

In order to meet competition from alkyd-amino resin coatings, cellulose nitrate coatings were improved in the 1950s by the development of multicolor lacquer enamels and superlacquers based on cellulose nitrate-isocyanate prepolymers.

When was cellulose nitrate first used?

Cellulose nitrate was synthesized in 1845 by Schonbein, who, because he believed it to be a nitro compound instead of an ester of nitric acid, mistakenly called it nitrocellulose. Solutions of cellulose nitrate (Pyroxylin) were patented by Wilson and Green in 1884.

Is nitrocellulose a blasting agent?

Nitrocellulose has six times the b lasting power of black powder making it an excellent propellant for large munitions and also as a blasting agent.

What is nitrocellulose lacquer used for?

Nitrocellulose lacquer has been used to finish musical instruments for decades. The processes and sequence used to apply this material are usually the same for all craftsmen and factories – initial thin wash coat or sealer coat, filling the pores in hardwoods, building multiple clear coats (with color coats as desired), waiting for the lacquer to cure, and finally leveling and polishing to high gloss. While these processes and finishing sequence are generally followed by most finishers, the details of the individual processes used in these factories or small shops can vary greatly – yet still yield the same highly desired thin, glass-like final finish on the completed instrument.

What is lacquer thinner?

Lacquer thinner is a volatile, “hot”, solvent containing a combination of hydrocarbon and chemical solvents – including naphtha, xylene, toluene, acetone, various ketones, and others.

How to apply clear lacquer?

Lacquer is usually applied by spraying, so the process outlined here will focus on this method of application. It should be noted, though, that the thin sealer used in the initial stages can be applied by brush as easily as sprayed, and that the clear lacquer can also be applied by brush successfully if it is slightly thinned (15-20%) with lacquer retarder. Lacquer retarder is a very slow thinner – it retards the drying process and allows the lacquer to flow out flat and smooth before drying hard. So the process outlined here can be used for brushing application as well as spraying.

How long does it take for vinyl sealer to dry?

Let the first wet coat dry about an hour before the second coat is applied. This sealing coat will dry enough to proceed in an hour.

What compound to use for semi gloss?

Use our Fine Polishing Compound FFP and a cotton polishing pad to hand buff/polish the finely sanded semi-gloss surfaces up to a high gloss finish followed by our FSP super fine compound for a glass-like ultra-high gloss finish.

Can you spray nitrocellulose lacquer?

Although nitrocellulose lacquer can be applied by brush (with the addition of retarder ), it is best applied, as intended, with proper spray equipment and some kind of ventilation hood or booth. The main drawback of lacquer thinner solvent based finishing is the hazardous nature of the evaporating solvent itself.

Can you use solvent to finish lacquer?

Lacquer thinner solvent is strong enough to dissolve subsequent coatings together, and it can easily dissolve a cured lacquer finish as well. This feature makes the finishing process and any touch-up or repair easier and more controllable compared to most other finishing systems. Solvent-based lacquer has been so extensively used in the guitar and furniture industries that all of its application and cured film properties are very well known and available. The resulting cured lacquer film is excellent for musical instruments. It is hard and durable, yet flexible, and can easily be buffed to a beautiful high gloss when cured. This finishing system is also well supported with a full spectrum of pigments and dyes for coloring, as well as abundant pore filling, sealing, spraying, sanding and buffing products.

When was nitrocellulose lacquer invented?

Nitrocellulose lacquer paints were in fact developed by DuPont in the 1920's specifically NOT to breathe, but to be a sealant against the forces of nature for automotive applications.

What is nitrocellulose made of?

Nitrocellulose is made from cellulose, which is also what all plant cells are made of. BUT, The manufacture of nitrocellulose rarely uses cellulose, or plant cell material, from trees, but rather cotton.. which is much more easily nitrated. But that's not the worst part of this statement.

Why does nitrocellulose allow wood to breathe?

Saying Nitrocellulose allows wood to "breathe" because it's manufactured from similar raw material, is about like saying you should be able to breathe water because it's 80% oxygen by weight and you breathe oxygen.

How much solids does Nitro have?

as a general rule, Nitro has a build of 30% solids.. that's the stuff we see as the shiny finish when its all done.. and approximately 70% solvents that's the toxic stuff that evaporates into the air around us....

How long does it take for lacquer to dry?

Lacquers dry to the touch relatively quickly, but then it can take weeks, or even months to dry completely, leading to the misconception that they "cure".

How long does it take for nitro to cure?

2)"Nitro takes weeks or even months to properly cure."

What is PU in lacquer?

While most polyurethanes are thermosetting polymers that do not melt when heated, thermoplastic polyurethanes are also available.

What is nitrocellulose lacquer made of?

Nitrocellulose Lacquers. Nitrocellulose lacquer is made by mixing fast-drying solvents with wood and cotton pulp containing cellulose that has been broken down by nitric and sulfuric acid. Edmund Flaherty, a chemist working for the DuPont Chemical Company, is credited for inventing nitrocellulose lacquer in 1921.

Why did Henry Ford use nitrocellulose lacquer?

It was quickly picked up by Henry Ford for his mass-produced automobiles because finished cars could come off the assembly line faster. Not long afterward, nitrocellulose lacquer replaced shellac and oil-based varnishes and became the preferred finish and the industry standard for furniture and cabinet manufacturers.

What is catalyzed lacquer?

The coatings industry put their chemists to work and responded by creating catalyzed lacquers, which are hybrid reactive finishes that cure chemically, not solely through the evaporation of solvents. Catalyzed lacquers contain some nitrocellulose resins, but the addition of urea resins makes these products much more durable. The chemical cure is initiated when an acid catalyst is added to the mixture.

What is CAB lacquer made of?

The most widely used of these products is called CAB-acrylic lacquer, made with cellulose acetate butyrate and acrylic resins. CAB-acrylic lacquer dries to a less brittle and more flexible film than that of nitrocellulose lacquer. It is also more expensive.

Why is lacquer blushing?

Because it dries so quickly, when applied under conditions of high humidity, the lacquer film can trap condensed moisture and cause the finish film to appear cloudy — a problem referred to as blushing. You can overcome that finishing obstacle by adding a slower-drying thinner, called a retarder, which allows the moisture to escape before it gets trapped in the film.

What is the best finish for wood?

Lacquer is often regarded as the best all-around finish for wood. It dries quickly, and it’s durable. There are several different types of lacquers available to woodworkers. Understanding the characteristics of each will help you choose the right one.

What is the chemical cure of lacquer?

The chemical cure is initiated when an acid catalyst is added to the mixture.

Where does lacquer come from?

Etymology. The English lacquer is from the archaic French word lacre "a kind of sealing wax", from Portuguese lacre, itself an unexplained variant of Medieval Latin lacca "resinous substance" from Arabic lakk, from Persian lak, from Hindi lakh (Prakrit lakkha ).

When was lacquer invented?

By the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), many centres of lacquer production became firmly established. The knowledge of the Chinese methods of the lacquer process spread from China during the Han, Tang and Song dynasties. Eventually it was introduced to Korea, Japan, Southeast and South Asia.

How does urushiol resin work?

Urushiol -based lacquers differ from most others, being slow-drying, and set by oxidation and polymerization, rather than by evaporation alone. The active ingredient of the resin is urushiol, a mixture of various phenols suspended in water, plus a few proteins. In order for it to set properly it requires a humid and warm environment. The phenols oxidize and polymerize under the action of laccase enzymes, yielding a substrate that, upon proper evaporation of its water content, is hard. These lacquers produce very hard, durable finishes that are both beautiful and very resistant to damage by water, acid, alkali or abrasion. The resin is derived from trees indigenous to East Asia, like lacquer tree Toxicodendron vernicifluum, and wax tree Toxicodendron succedaneum. The fresh resin from the T. vernicifluum trees causes urushiol-induced contact dermatitis and great care is therefore required in its use. The Chinese treated the allergic reaction with crushed shellfish, which supposedly prevents lacquer from drying properly. Lacquer skills became very highly developed in Asia, and many highly decorated pieces were produced.

What is shellac based on?

In terms of modern finishing products, finishes based on shellac dissolved in alcohol are often called shellac or lac to distinguish them from synthetic lacquer, often called simply lacquer, which consists of synthetic polymers (such as nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate ("CAB"), or acrylic resin) dissolved in lacquer thinner, a mixture of various organic solvents. Although synthetic lacquer is more durable than shellac, traditional shellac finishes are nevertheless often preferred for their aesthetic characteristics, as with French polish, as well as their "all-natural" and generally food-safe ingredients.

When was lacquerware introduced to Europe?

From the 16th century to the 17th century, lacquer was introduced to Europe on a large scale for the first time through trade with Japanese. Until the 19th century, lacquerware was one of Japan's major exports, and European royalty, aristocrats and religious people represented by Marie-Antoinette, Maria Theresa and The Society of Jesus collected Japanese lacquerware luxuriously decorated with maki-e. The terms related to lacquer such as " Japanning ", " Urushiol " and " maque " which means lacquer in Mexican Spanish, are derived from Japanese.

What is lacquer coating?

In modern techniques, lacquer means a range of clear or pigmented coatings that dry by solvent evaporation to produce a hard, durable finish. The finish can be of any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss, and it can be further polished as required.

What is lacquer used for?

The term lacquer is used for a number of hard and potentially shiny finishes applied to materials such as wood or metal. These fall into a number of very different groups.

Overview

Munitions

Production

Film

Fabric

Other uses

Hazards

See also