Cellulose nitrates are a range of compounds formed by treating cellulose with a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids. They are used in the manufacture of plastics, lacquers and explosives. They were also used extensively as a film base until 1951, but were abandoned for this purpose because of their high flammability. See also Nitrate film.

nitric acid esters; used in lacquers and explosives

an inflammable thermoplastic made from CELLULOSE treated with nitric and sulphuric acids. With camphor as PLASTICIZER it was patented as Celluloid in USA in 1869.