Photooxidation of cellulose nitrate: New insights into degradation mechanisms

•The photooxidation of cellulose nitrate was focused on the formation of polluting chemical products.•Chemical modifications revealed de-nitration of cellulose nitrate and formation lactone and anhydride.•Correlation between modifications in chemical structure and thermal functional properties. Cell...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of hazardous materials 2014-05, Vol.272, p.137-147
Main Authors: Berthumeyrie, Sebastien, Collin, Steeve, Bussiere, Pierre-Olivier, Therias, Sandrine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anhydrides - chemistry
Applied sciences
Cellulose - analogs & derivatives
Cellulose - chemistry
Cellulose nitrate
Chemical engineering
Chemical Sciences
Collodion - chemistry
Exact sciences and technology
Hot Temperature
Lactones - chemistry
Light
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Nitrogen - chemistry
Oxygen - chemistry
Photochemistry - methods
Photooxidation
Pollution
Polymers - chemistry
Propellants
Reactors
Spectrophotometry, Infrared
Ultraviolet Rays
UV light
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Summary:•The photooxidation of cellulose nitrate was focused on the formation of polluting chemical products.•Chemical modifications revealed de-nitration of cellulose nitrate and formation lactone and anhydride.•Correlation between modifications in chemical structure and thermal functional properties. Cellulose nitrate (or nitrocellulose) has received considerable interest due to its uses in various applications, such as paints, photographic films and propellants. However, it is considered as one of the primary pollutants in the energetic material industries because it can be degraded to form polluting chemical species. In this work, the UV light degradation of cellulose nitrate films was studied under conditions of artificially accelerated photooxidation. To eliminate the reactivity of nitro groups, the degradation of ethylcellulose was also investigated. Infrared spectroscopy analyses of the chemical modifications caused by the photooxidation of cellulose nitrate films and the resulting formation of volatile products revealed the occurrence of de-nitration and the formation of oxidation photoproducts exhibiting lactone and anhydride functions. The impact of these chemical modifications on the mechanical and thermal properties of cellulose nitrate films includes embrittlement and lower temperatures of ignition when used as a propellant.
ISSN:0304-3894
1873-3336
DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.02.039