Celluloid Begin with Nitrocellulose

Although Schobein failed at marketing guncotton, researchers in France discovered that solvents such as diethyl ether and alcohol transformed nitrocellulose to a gel that could be molded into various shapes. Furthermore, spread thin on a flat surface, the gel dried to a tough, clear, transparent film. This workable nitrocellulose material was dubbed collodion, and its first application was as a medical dressing for cuts. 

In 1855, the moldable features of collodion were exploited by the British inventor and chemist Alexander Parkes, who marketed the material as Parkesine. Combs, earrings, buttons, bracelets, billiard balls, and even false teeth were manufactured in his factories. Parkes chose to focus more on quantity than on quality, however. Because he used low-grade cotton and cheap but unsuitable solvents, many of his products lacked durability, which led to commercial failure. In 1870, John Hyatt, a young inventor from Albany, New York, discovered that collodions moldable properties were vastly improved by using camphor as a solvent. Hyatts brother Isaiah named this camphor-based nitrocellulose material celluloid. Because of its greater workability, celluloid became the plastic of choice for the manufacture of many household items. In addition, thin transparent films of celluloid made excellent supports for photosensitive emulsions, a boon to the photography industry and a first step in the development of motion pictures. 

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