Camphor powdered

Place a mixture of 5 g. of camphor, 6 g. of powdered selenium dioxide and 5 ml. of acetic anhydride in flask fitted with a reflux water-condenser. Heat the flask in an oil-bath for 3 hours at 140-150 so that gentle boiling occurs shake the mixture from time to time. 

Pressing is carried out within a cemented carbide die between two steel or cemented carbide punches. In order to impart enough mechanical strength to the blank to permit further manipulation without risk, removable organic binders (camphor, natural or synthetic waxes, latex or synthetic rubber, methyl polymethacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose, ammonium alginate) are mixed into the powder, dissolved in a convenient volatile solvent. Some of these also act as lubricants thus minimizing the wear on the die. 

In a 3-1., three-necked, round-bottomed flask fitted with a powerful slow-speed stirrer having a Teflon blade, a 500-ml. dropping funnel, and a thermometer arranged to dip into the liquid is placed 588 g. (366 ml., 6 moles) of concentrated sulfuric acid. The flask is surrounded by an ice-salt mixture, the stirrer started, and 1216 g. (1170 ml., 12 moles) of acetic anhydride (Note 1) is added at such a rate that the temperature does not rise above 20° (Note 2). The separatory funnel is removed and 912 g. (6 moles) of coarsely powdered D,L-camphor is added (Note 3). The flask is then closed with a stopper and stirring is continued until the camphor is dissolved. The stirrer is replaced by a stopper, the ice bath allowed to melt, and the mixture left to stand for 36 hours (Note 4). The camphorsulfonic acid is collected on a suction filter and washed with ether (Note 5). After being dried in a vacuum desiccator at room temperature, the nearly white crystalline product weighs 530-580 g. (38-42%). It melts at 202-203° with rapid decomposition and is relatively pure (Note 6). 

The most widely used inorganic ester of cellulose is cellulose nitrate (CN), also called nitrocellulose or gun cotton. Celluloid is produced from a mixture of CN and camphor. It was first made in 1833 when cellulose-containing linen, paper, or sawdust was reacted with concentrated nitric acid. It was the first synthetic cellulose product that was recognized. Initially, CN was used as a military explosive and improvements allowed the manufacture of smokeless powder. A representation of CN is given in structure 9.7. 

Formula 179 is "Ignition Mixture III" also known as Chemical Corps B2-50, or "Boom Powder" It is mixed with NC/Camphor soln and the slurry granulated... 

Nitrocellulose powders gelatinized on the surface with centralite, camphor or nitro compounds are less hygroscopic since the layer of gel on the surface constitutes a non-hygroscopic coating which prevents the powder inside from attracting moisture. Nitrocellulose powders containing aromatic nitro compounds, e.g, dinitrotoluene (DNT) or dinitroxylene (DNX) are less hygroscopic. 

After a preliminary dry polishing for several minutes, an alcoholic solution of a gelatinizing substance—centralite (p. 645) (3% in relation to the weight of powder) or camphor (1.5-2%)—is introduced through an opening in the side wall of the drum. These substances are usually injected in the form of a 10-20% solution sprayed with compressed air. The solution should have a temperature of about 50°C when centralite... 

In some countries (U.S.A.) DNT is used for the surface coating of tubular rifle powder, instead of centralite or camphor. The polishing is carried out in the presence of water at a temperature of 80°C, i.e. above the melting point of DNT. As the polishing proceeds, the water is removed by evaporation under reduced pressure, the DNT remaining on the surface of the powder tubes. 

Borlond s Method of Manufocturing Smokeless Powder. In 1901, Mr Borland, Director of EC Powd Co, Ltd, England, invented a procedure in which NC was gelatinized by an emulsion contg MeOH, acet, camphor, paraffin oil benz or Iigroin. The vol solv was removed by moist air heated at 65.5°. The.moisture in the air was used to prevent formation of static electricity... 

N) 3 parts, camphor lp, urea 0.75+0.05% of NC solvent in amt sufficient for processing it comes in sheets an d is intended for use in powder wads spacers and b)Composition B, consists of NC(ca 11% N) 72-78 camphor 28-22% it comes in discs with vents intended for use in fuses, tracers primers(Ref 19)... 

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