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  1. #11
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    People usually describe the smell as vinegar.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  2. #12
    The Electrochemist PhatMan's Avatar
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    thebigspendur,

    The acidic, vinegary smell is from traces of nitric acid, either from the original manufacture of the celluloid, or from its break down.

    Have fun !

    Best regards

    Russ

  3. #13
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Cellulose acetate breaks down to give a vinegar smell (sometimes also a bit like ammonia) - it was once called the "vinegar syndrome." It may also stretch, shrink and flex and exude the plasticiser, leaving an oily deposit, as well as triggering a chemical reaction in nearby articles made of cellulose acetate.

    Cellulose nitrate is worse: the breakdown products are strongly acidic: this causes metals to rust and as it is a strong oxidising agent it can also cause spontaneous combustion (early formulations). To counter this, camphor was added - hence the camphor smell.

    Two types of celluloid - two different smells!

    Who knows how many more varieties there are?

    Regards,
    Neil

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