Imitation camphor

Pinene Hydrochloride. Imitation Camphor.—This substance has an odor similar to camphor and it is known as imitation or artificial camphor but it is not synthetic camphor. When, however, pinene hydrochloride is treated with alcoholic potassium hydroxide a rearrangement takes place followed by hydrolysis and a terpene alcohol is obtained known as Bomeol. 

John Hyatt was trying to make imitation ivory billiard balls from nitrocellulose and camphor. Instead of ivory , he got a new substance. He called it celluloid . Celluloid has serious disadvantages it is brittle, inflammable and discolours with age. 

Celluloid, which was patented in the USA in 1870, is a combination of pyroxylin, camphor, and cellulose fiber. It could be molded under pressure, and could be made in any color. Later experiments revealed that certain additives increased its flexibility and luster. Most early celluloid was used to make small household and decorative objects, often in a white or cream color to imitate ivory. With the invention of motion pictures, celluloid became commonly used as film. 

While vulcanization of NR and GP was the first purposeful modification of natural polymers, the first man-made polymer was nitrocellulose, NC, discovered by Braconnot in 1833 (see Appendix I). Several commercial products followed, e.g., Collodion (lacquers based on alcohol-ether solution), Parkesine (the first thermoplastic material hot rolled and formable into variety of shapes), Ivorite (used as a substitute for ivory). Celluloid (camphor plasticized NC). Cellulose acetate, CA, was introduced in 1869 by Schutzenberger. Casein crosslinking by formaldehyde resulted in a 1885-patent hy Kritsche and Spitteler for what later became known as Galalith, a horn-like material quite successfully used even today as an imitation of ivory and porcelain [Seymour, 1982 1989]. 

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