nitrocellulose

Refers to a mixture of nitric esters of cellulose, and a highly flammable compound that is the main ingredient of modern gunpowder. It was used to produce animation cels for 80 years until acetate was introduced as a medium in the 1950s. Nitrocellulose is a fluffy white substance that retains some of the fibrous structure of untreated cellulose. It is not stable to heat and will ignite easily.