[rollei_list] Re: looks like ... agfa Sala
- From: Thor Legvold <tlegvold@xxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 08:30:20 +0200
I seem to recall a scene in "Cinema Paradiso" that involved nitrate
based film catching on fire (due to the heat of the lamp on one section
of film that was stationary instead of rolling).
Thor
On 31. mai. 2005, at 04.33, Richard Knoppow wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jerry Lehrer" <jerryleh@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 7:14 PM
> Subject: [rollei_list] Re: looks like ... agfa Sala
>
>
>> Richard,
>>
>> Nitrate film is nitrocellulose; an explosive used as part
>> of some smokeless powders. The actual amount of
>> the nitration of the cellulose determines it's explosive
>> powers. The other component of some gunpowder
>> is nitroglycerine.
>>
>> Many organic components can be nitrated, some are more
>> unstable than others. (Benzene, chloroform, kerosene,
>> ethane etc.) Usually nasty stuff to play with.
>>
>> As kids, we used to use old nitrate base films to make
>> explosives.
>>
>> Jerry
>>
> The material used in nitrate film base is not explosive
> per se. However it burns very firstly with the evolution of
> a lot of gasses. Decomposing nitrate film base emits a toxic
> and explosive gas. It also generates enough heat to result
> in catching fire. As I pointed out nitrate film fires are
> exceptionally difficult to extinguish, the only practical
> method being to limit fuel. This was done in the motion
> picture industry by storing nitrate film in properly
> ventilated explosion proof vaults and not storing too much
> in the same place. The old rules for projection rooms also
> required that the film be stored away from the projection
> room and not more than a limited amount be in the projection
> room. Projection rooms were also required to have explosion
> proof front walls with very limited port areas and
> automatic, heat operated, shutters over the ports. The
> projectors were completely enclosed and were
> compartmentalized with pinch rollers between each section to
> limit the amount of film that could burn to a foot or so at
> most. There were some early theater fires that resulted in
> extensive loss of life that resulted in the very stringent
> regulations applied to theaters in most places.
> For film buffs the last Hollywood movie photographed on
> Nitrate was "Sunset Boulevard".
>
> ---
> Richard Knoppow
> Los Angeles, CA, USA
> dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
> ---
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