Difference between revisions of "Celluloid"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
Celluloid was originally a trademark [Hoechst Celanese] and is now a generic term for [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=cellulose nitrate cellulose nitrate] plasticized with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=camphor camphor]. Celluloid was commercially produced in 1872 by John and Isaiah Hyatt after they patented the material in the U.S. in 1870 (#105,338). Celluloid was marketed as a substitute for [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=ivory ivory], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=horn horn], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=amber amber], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=tortoiseshell tortoiseshell] for use in piano keys, dolls, buttons, combs, brushes, mirrors, collars, dental plates, and other small items. The tough, transparent sheets and strips of celluloid were also used for photographic and motion picture films as well as animation cels. Celluloid film was cast from a solution of cellulose nitrate with wood alcohol ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=methyl alcohol methanol]), amyl nitrate, camphor and fusel oil ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=amyl alcohol, mixed isomers amyl alcohol]).  
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Celluloid was originally a trademark [Hoechst Celanese] and is now a generic term for [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=cellulose%20nitrate cellulose nitrate] plasticized with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=camphor camphor]. Celluloid was commercially produced in 1872 by John and Isaiah Hyatt after they patented the material in the U.S. in 1870 (#105,338). Celluloid was marketed as a substitute for [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=ivory ivory], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=horn horn], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=amber amber], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=tortoiseshell tortoiseshell] for use in piano keys, dolls, buttons, combs, brushes, mirrors, collars, dental plates, and other small items. The tough, transparent sheets and strips of celluloid were also used for photographic and motion picture films as well as animation cels. Celluloid film was cast from a solution of cellulose nitrate with wood alcohol ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=methyl%20alcohol methanol]), amyl nitrate, camphor and fusel oil ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=amyl%20alcohol%2C%20mixed%20isomers amyl alcohol]).  
  
 
Note: Cellulose nitrate plasticized with camphor was patented in 1855 in England by Alexander Parkes and sold as [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=Parkesine Parkesine] and later as Xylonite.
 
Note: Cellulose nitrate plasticized with camphor was patented in 1855 in England by Alexander Parkes and sold as [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=Parkesine Parkesine] and later as Xylonite.
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== Authority ==
 
== Authority ==
  
* R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, ''Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia'', Dover Publications, New York, 1966
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* R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, ''Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia'', Dover Publications, New York, 1966
  
* G.S.Brady, G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 172
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* G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 172
  
* Ralph Mayer, Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
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* Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  
* Richard S. Lewis, Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
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* Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  
* C.V.Horie, C.V.Horie, ''Materials for Conservation'', Butterworth-Heineman, London, 1997
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* C.V.Horie, ''Materials for Conservation'', Butterworth-Heineman, London, 1997
  
* Website address 1, Website address 1  Comment: History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html
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* Website address 1  Comment: History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html
  
 
* ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996  Comment: E.McParland "Ivory"  "Plastic"
 
* ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996  Comment: E.McParland "Ivory"  "Plastic"
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* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celluloid (Accessed Jan. 15, 2006)
 
* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celluloid (Accessed Jan. 15, 2006)
  
* Random House, Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
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* Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
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* ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980  Comment: density=1.4
 
* ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980  Comment: density=1.4
  
* George Savage, George Savage, ''Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook'', Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954
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* George Savage, ''Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook'', Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954
  
  
  
 
[[Category:Materials database]]
 
[[Category:Materials database]]

Revision as of 07:52, 24 July 2013

1997.64-SC34200.jpg

Description

Celluloid was originally a trademark [Hoechst Celanese] and is now a generic term for cellulose nitrate plasticized with camphor. Celluloid was commercially produced in 1872 by John and Isaiah Hyatt after they patented the material in the U.S. in 1870 (#105,338). Celluloid was marketed as a substitute for ivory, horn, amber, tortoiseshell for use in piano keys, dolls, buttons, combs, brushes, mirrors, collars, dental plates, and other small items. The tough, transparent sheets and strips of celluloid were also used for photographic and motion picture films as well as animation cels. Celluloid film was cast from a solution of cellulose nitrate with wood alcohol (methanol), amyl nitrate, camphor and fusel oil (amyl alcohol).

Note: Cellulose nitrate plasticized with camphor was patented in 1855 in England by Alexander Parkes and sold as Parkesine and later as Xylonite.

Celluloid tuning peg from an electric guitar

Synonyms and Related Terms

pyroxylin; cellulose nitrate; nitrocellulose; Cellonite; Pyralin; Ivornine;

Ivorite; Xylonite; Ivoride; Zelluloid (Deut.); celluloide (It.); celuloid (Pol.); celluloid (Sven.); celuloide (Esp.); nitrato de celulosa (Esp.); nitrocelulosa (Esp.)

Other Properties

Burns with a bright, violent flame; smells of nitrogen oxides. Soluble in acetone, amyl acetate, ethanol. Insoluble in water.

CAS 8050-88-2
Density 1.34-1.40

Hazards and Safety

Flammable.

Additional Information

J.Reilly, "Celluloid Objects: Their Chemistry and Preservation" JAIC, 145-162, 1991. Link

Authority

  • R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 172
  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • C.V.Horie, Materials for Conservation, Butterworth-Heineman, London, 1997
  • Website address 1 Comment: History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html
  • The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: E.McParland "Ivory" "Plastic"
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  • The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
  • CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=1.4
  • George Savage, Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook, Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954

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