Study on the effect of ethanol content on the fire risk of nitrocellulose

Abstract

Obtaining the burning properties of nitrocellulose with different ethanol contents is necessary to reduce the possibility of nitrocellulose accidents in the process of handing, storage and usage. In this study, the effect of humectant content on the burning properties of NC was tested by the ISO 5660 Cone Calorimeter Test. It was noted that the amount of the ethanol content had little effect on the ignition time of nitrocellulose mixture. Both the maximum mass loss rate and the average mass loss rate of the sample decreased with an increasing ethanol content and gradually closed to fixed values. Also, it was concluded that the peak heat release rate of the sample was mainly contributed by the nitrocellulose component.