Nitrocellulose

Among the first true high explosive,nitrocellulose was first synthesized in 1845 by Christian F. Schoenbein. It is of the family of aliphatic nitrate esters produced by replacing hydroxyl (-OH) groups in starch molecules with nitrate (-NO2) ions. Its empirical formula is C6H7OH (ONO2), where

It is closely related to nitrostarch, other than nitrocellulose polymers are straight while nitrostarch is spiral, consisting of approximately 1,000 anyhdroglucose units.

Guncotton is widely used in firearm propellants, both for small arms and artillery. It is the first ingredient in single-base, double-base and single-base propellants; it is plasticized with other ingredients in the multiple bases. Propellant applications are the most common today, although it is also used in some commercial blasting explosives.

Five grades are in use for various applications, not all explosive.