The 8th International Nitrocellulose Symposium was held 5-7 June 2018.  150 world-class experts from the defence, outdoors and civil explosives fields met in Bergerac, France, to discuss the present and future of energetic nitrocellulose.

The goal of the eighth Symposium was to present and discuss recent progress in all fields related to nitrocellulose, with a special interest in propellant applications. Key topics were:

• Characterisation and properties of nitrocellulose
• Safety, stability and ageing of NC and NC-based material
• Synthesis / processing of NC and preparation / processing of NC-based material
• Effect of NC on performance propellant and explosive

Presentations

• Universal calibration for GPC of nitrocellulose.  A Moran, MAXAM
• Near infrared spectroscopy for the quality control of felting combustible cartridge cases: From samples to analysis.  D . Chaveroux , EURENCO, Bergerac , France
• SEC (Size Exclusion Chromatography) correlation viscosity= f (DP).  Claude GUILLAUME, MANUCO, France
• Oscillatory rheology of plasticised nitrocellulose binder formulations.  Adam Halford, www.awe.co.uk
• Progress toward reliable NC molecular mass distribution by GPC, plus a small introduction to CHN.  Nicola Barnett, www.awe.co.uk
• Status of NATO-standard for nitrocellulose testing (STANAG/AOP 4178).  Beat Vogelsanger1, Michael Ramin1, Marc Müller, Patrick Folly.  1 Rheinmetall, Nitrchemie, Switzerland
• Life Assessment of nitrocellulose- based energetic materials: LOVA, Flare and CCC.  Matthew Andrews1, Christelle Collet1, Rebecca Millar1, Emmanuel Schultz2.  1 MSIAC NATO, Belgium, 2 EURENCO, France.
• Evaluation of a ‘stabiliser cocktail’ for a plasticised nitrocellulose Polymer Bonded Explosive. Harry Hope.  www.awe.co.uk
• Stability testing of nitrocellulose.  Michael Ramin, Beat Vogelsanger, Marc Müller, Beate Pausch.  Rheinmetall, Nitrchemie, Switzerland.
• “8.12”Tianjin Explosion and Industrial NC.  Peng Huan.  Sichuan Nitrocell Corp. P.R. of China.
• Chemiluminescence: Investigating the thermo-chemical decomposition mechanism of nitrocellulose. Matthew Parker, Nathalie Mai, Ian Wallace, Philip Gill.  Cranfeld University, , Shrivenham, UK
• Study of nitrocellulose self-ignition temperature. Petra Loudová, Jiří Schejbal, Jaroslav Štěpán, Oldřich Večerek.  SYNTHESIA, a. s.  Czech Republic.
• InFuse™ Nitrocellulose: Production, Propellant and Potential.  Velarde. Orbital ATK, USA.
• Evaluation of gun propellants made with Kraft (sulfate) cellulose.  Daniel Lee, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, USA.
• New raw materials for the production of cellulose nitrates. Lauri Valtola. Nammo, Norway.
• Review of the fibre structure of cotton/wood cellulose and nitrocellulose and effect on nitration and solvent reactivity.  Mario Paquet, General Dynamics – OTS, Canada.
• A universal kinetic model for the nitration of cellulose fibers in mixed acids.  Francis Sullivan, U.S. Army ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806 USA
• High Purity Woodpulps for the Nitrocellulose Industry. Rayonier, Advanced Materials.
• Manufacturing and evaluation of Kraft AFP001 propellant.  Lucas Lopez, Mo Elalem, U.S. Army ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806 USA
• Propellant qualification: An overview of UK propellant qualification strategy.  Nigel Rutter, UK MoD.
• Graphene oxide interaction with nitrate esters for novel propellant formulation. Prima Kharisma I. Yahya, Philip Gill, Monir Moniruzzaman.  Cranfeld University, , Shrivenham, UK
• Characterization of ageing of NC based double base rocket propellants by not often used measurement properties. Manfred A Bohn, Fraunhofer Institut fuer Chemische Technologie (ICT), Pfinztal, Germany.
• Proposed upgrading of Kraft cellulose specification.  Kristy Klein, Lucas Lopez, Mo Elalem, U.S. Army ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806, USA