NC Handling training

1. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Nitrocellulose
Safe Handling
8/24/2022
optional slide footer 1

2. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
What is Nitrocellulose?
• Cellulose (natural polymer) that has been nitrated (NO2 groups)
• Greater than 12.5% nitrogen – guncotton
• 10-12.5% nitrogen – additive for wood coating, paint, protective coatings
• Highly flammable, easily ignited by flame, spark, friction, static, etc.
• Commonly wetted with alcohol or water to reduce sensitivity to
friction and impact
• Forms
• Dry
• Wetted
• In Solution (Laquer)

3. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Nitrocellulose
• What are the hazards?
• Explosive when dry and sufficiently nitrated
• Highly flammable when wet
• Considered a flammable liquid when in solution
• Reactive with amines – will cause a fire!

4. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Nitrocellulose – Wet vs Dry

5. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Safety Cautions
• Nitrocellulose should NEVER be:
• Dried out
• Wetted with dioctyl phthalate,
toluene, or plasticizer (only with
isopropyl alcohol)
• Where possible, use in solution only!
• Comply with bulk storage
requirements (venting, integrity
testing, etc.)

6. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Safe Handling
• Only bring into the plant when
needed for the batch
• Protected from impact, shock,
and friction
• Keep bags closed, do not allow
to dry out
• Bond and ground to the LINER
• Use only grounded tools
• Wear wrist strap

7. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Safe Storage
• Do not drag containers
• Use only SD liners
• Do not store in direct sunlight
• First in – first out
• Do not store over 12 months
• Storage rooms to have infrared or fixed
temperature/rate of rise detectors
• Storage rooms to have 1.5 hour rated fire doors,
2 hour rated fire walls, and 14.3 L/min/m2 (0.35
gpm/ft2) sprinkler system

8. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Safe Storage
• Store only in the original
package
• Store separately from other
materials
• Nitroshed = A lot of extra fire
protection
• Do not open containers in
the storage area
• Container should always be
kept tightly sealed to prevent
any evaporation
• Dry nitrocellulose becomes
sensitive to shock and friction

9. Thrive 2025 | For Internal Use Only | Company Confidential
Clean up and Disposal
• Spark resistant, SD, and grounded equipment
• Liquify residue prior to disposal as hazardous industrial
waste
• Rags used to wipe drumps / equipment thoroughly
wetted and disposed of in water-filled hazardous waste
drum
• Plastic containers / liners with residue to be misted with
water and sealed, disposed of as special waste in a
closed metal drum
• Storage areas and areas where nitrocellulose is handled
to be periodically washed down with water. Water to be
collected and disposed of as non-hazardous waste