cellulose ester

Other forms: cellulose esters

Definitions of cellulose ester

1. noun

   any ester of cellulose with an acid
   types:

   cellulose nitrate, guncotton, nitrocellulose, nitrocotton

   a nitric acid ester; used in lacquers and explosives

   cellulose acetate

   an ester of acetic acid; used in fibers and fabrics; photographic films and varnishes

   cellulose xanthate, viscose

   a cellulose ester obtained by treating cellulose with caustic soda

   pyrocellulose

   nitrocellulose containing less nitrogen than guncotton; used in making smokeless powder

   pyroxylin, pyroxyline

   highly flammable nitrocellulose used in making collodion and plastics and lacquers

   cellulose triacetate, triacetate

   cellulose acetate that is relatively slow to burn; used instead of celluloid for motion-picture film

   type of:

   ester

   formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water