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🧨 Nitrocellulose Propellant (Military Grade)
Product Introduction
Nitrocellulose (NC) — also known as guncotton or cellulose nitrate — is the foundational energetic material behind virtually every modern smokeless propellant in military service. Manufactured by nitrating purified cellulose (wood pulp or cotton linters) with mixed nitric–sulphuric acid, high-nitrogen NC delivers rapid, clean combustion, high energy density, and excellent chemical stability when properly stored.
Our military-grade Nitrocellulose is supplied as a fine white powder / short-fibre flake at Grade C / Type I specification with 13.10–13.20 % nitrogen content, meeting artillery, small-arms, rocket, and demolition propellant requirements. It is the primary ingredient in single-base propellants (such as M1), and combined with nitroglycerine and nitroguanidine in double-base and triple-base formulations (such as M30). For safe transport it is shipped wetted with ≥30 % water under UN 2555 / Hazard Class 4.1.
Chemical Identification
| Chemical name | Cellulose nitrate (Nitrocellulose) |
| Common names | Guncotton, NC, flash paper (high-nitrogen grades) |
| CAS number | 9004-70-0 |
| Grade / Type | C / Type I (military / propellant grade) |
| Nitrogen content | 13.10 – 13.20 % N |
| Appearance | White powder / short-fibre flake |
Physical & Performance Properties
| Density (dry) | ~1.66 g/cm³ |
| Detonation velocity (13.2% N, dry) | ~7300 m/s |
| Heat of explosion | ~4100 kJ/kg |
| Ignition temperature | ~170 °C (dry) |
| Solubility | Soluble in acetone, ethyl acetate, ether-alcohol mixtures |
| Water shipping content | ≥30 % H₂O (per UN 2555) |
Transport & Classification
| UN number (wetted) | UN 2555 |
| Hazard class (wetted) | 4.1 — Flammable Solid |
| Packaging group | II |
Applications
- Single-base propellants — primary energetic in M1 and similar formulations (M1 Single-Base Propellant)
- Double-base propellants — with nitroglycerine, for higher-energy small-arms and rocket motors
- Triple-base propellants — with NG and nitroguanidine, in M30 and high-zone artillery (M30 Triple-Base)
- Composite modified double-base rocket propellants
- Detonating cord and specialty demolition compositions
- Flash paper and high-nitrogen pyrotechnic applications
Packaging
- Fibreboard drums, polyethylene-lined, wetted with ≥30% water
- Typical net weight: 100 kg or 200 kg (dry basis) per drum
- Palletised for container shipping under IMDG / IATA / ADR regulations
- Must be kept wet during storage and transport — drying out creates a serious explosion hazard