US1572249A - Process of reducing the viscosity characteristics of nitrocellulosic materials - Google Patents

Description

Patented F ch.- 9, 1926.

1,512,249- UNITED STAT- s P T T orrlcs.

SAMUEL E. SHEPPARD AND Id EON w. EBEBLIN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AS?

SIGNOBS 'IO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY,

TION OFJTEW YOBK..

enemies or ammonia THE vrscosrrr ename'rnmsrres or 'm'rnocnLLuLosIo OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- unranms.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL E. sum- 1 certain new and useful Im rovements in at room temperature, without Processes-of Reducing the iscosity Characteristics of Nitrocellulosic Materials, of which the .following is a full, clear, and exact specification. c

This invention relates to processes for treating nitrocellulosic materials in such a way as to reduce the viscosity characteristics thereof. One object of the invention is to provide a safe, simple and relatively inexpensive process for treatin such materials in order to obtain the desired lower viscosity characteristics. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a process in which the change in the viscosity characteristics can be eifec-ted with suflicient rapidity the necessity of using heating operations. A further object of the invention is to provide such a processin which the material is readily purified by reason of the practical neutrality of the treating bath. Other objects will hereinafter appear. a

In certain industries it is desirable to use solutions of nitrocellulose which-have a high concentration of the latter and yet "have a low viscosit It is desirable to provide a safe and re ativel inexpensive process for convertingthe hig -viscosity types of nitrocellulose, which are roducedin large quantities for. many in ustrial purposes, into nitrocelluloses which have low viscosity characteristics and can therefore, be-made into solutions of the above described type. We have found that a process having these desirable eflects can be carried out by treatin nitrocellulosic material with a peroxi e' solution, preferably one. which is substantially neutral. The action proceeds with useful rapidity at room temperature and varies with the concentration of the peroxide, which is usually hydrogen peroxide. The treatment is applicable to nitrocellulose in-its various forms and its various associations.

Application and June 15, 1925. Serial m. 37,405.

Weshall now describe. by Way of illustra tion as ecific example of our invention, but it will be understood that the latter is not limited to the details, thus given,except as indicated in-the appended claims. I Nitrocellulosic material, such as pyroxylin waste or photographic film scrap, from which gelatinous material has preferably" been removed,- or even the orig nal nitrocellulose fibers, are

placed, while in comminuted condition in a 3% .aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide of substantial neutrality at ,room' temperature. It is allowed to remain in this'bath at room temperature, indicate that the desired lowering-of viscosity has taken place. While the time may vary greatly, we have found that. a treat. ment of 24 hours at room temperature, under the above described conditions, produces a until the usual tests 1 very marked reduction in the viscosity charl' acteristics of the nitrocellulose even when the latter is associated with high boiling organic compounds like cohol and soforth.

After the action is completed, the bath is drainedoff from the nitrocellulosic material, and the latter is washed.

approximate neutrality of the bath, it is very which comprises acting thereon with a bath camphor, butyl al- 7 I By reason ofthe' A neutral solution of the ordinary of a peroxide, until its viscosity characte'risticsare' lowered. i

2. The process of treating nitrocellulose which comprises acting thereon with a substantially neutral aqueous bath of-a peroxide until the nitrocellulose are reduced.

3. The which comprises acting thereon with a subviscosity characteristics of the process of treatinganitrocellulosei easy to purify the material by washing, there b teristics of the nitrocellulose are reduced.

4. The process of treating nitrocellulose which comprises immersing the same in -a substantially neutral aqueous bath of hydrogen peroxide at room temperature until the viscosity characteristics of the nitrocellulose are. reduced.

5. The process of treating nitrocellulose which comprises acting thereon with a-substantially neutral aqueous bath of hydrogen peroxide, until the viscosity characteristics of the nitrocellulose are lowered, and washing said bath from said material.

(5. The process of treating colloidized same with a bath containing peroxide until the viscosity characteristics of the nitrocellulose are reduced.

7. The process of treating solid colloidized nitrocellulose associated with a high boiling organic compound, which comprises acting on the same, while in a condition having a large surface relative to its mass, with a substantially neutral aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide until the viscosity characteristics of the nitrocellulose are reduced. Signed at Rochester, New York, this 11th day of June 1925.

SAMUEL E. SHEPPARD. LEON W. EBERLIN.