Introduction to nitrate film

What is nitrate film?

Cellulose nitrate was first used as a base for photographic roll film by George Eastman in 1889; it was used for photographic and professional 35mm motion picture film until the 1950s. It is highly flammable and also decomposes with age, becoming toxic.

When new, nitrate film could be ignited with the heat of a cigarette; partially decomposed, it can ignite spontaneously at temperatures as low as 120°F (49°C). Nitrate film burns rapidly, fuelled by its own oxygen, and releases toxic fumes.

How to spot decomposition

There are five stages in the decomposition of nitrate film:

1. Amber discolouration with fading of picture
2. The emulsion becomes adhesive and films stick together; film becomes brittle
3. The film contains gas bubbles and gives off a noxious odour
4. The film is soft, welded to adjacent film and frequently covered with a viscous froth
5. The film mass degenerates into a brownish acrid powder

At stage 1 or 2, film can be copied. At stage 3, it may be possible to copy parts of films. At stage 4 and 5, the film is useless and should be immediately destroyed by your local fire brigade because of the dangers of spontaneous combustion and chemical attack on other films. For advice on safe disposal, contact the environmental health department of your local council and the community fire safety officer of your local fire authority.

In the 1980s it was estimated that the majority of nitrate film would have decomposed by 2000. However, through a systematic process of copying and by deep-freezing film, archivists have effectively bought themselves further time to tackle the problem. But during the last 20 years another problem, this time with acetate safety film—vinegar syndrome—has arisen which also needs to be tackled.

How to identify nitrate film

Nitrate movie film was made mostly in the professional 35mm gauge, though in the 1890s and the early years of this century some amateur film stocks, such as 17.5mm, were cut down from 35mm film.

8mm, Super 8, 9.5mm and 16mm movie film was always manufactured with a safety (non-flammable) base, as were the earlier Edison 22mm and Pathé 28mm films. 35mm safety movie film was made from 1908 onwards but was not widely used by the cinema industry until the mid-1950s.

Nitrate film is often difficult to identify. 35mm movie film is usually found in metal cans, about 1–1½in (2.5–4cm) deep and varying in diameter from 2 to 14 inches (5–35cm). The film may be wound on a wooden or plastic bobbin but often there is no bobbin at all.

Unroll a few strands of the film to look at the pictures. If the frames stretch from one side of the sprocket holes to the other, it is silent film and almost certainly nitrate. If the picture is yellowish and slightly faded and the film gives off a pungent smell, it is nitrate in the first stage of decomposition.

The manufacturer’s name is sometimes printed along the film edge, together with other identifying marks. A star identifies the film as nitrate. Sound nitrate film (smaller-sized frames and a strip of sound track running the length of the film between the frames and one set of sprocket holes) often has ‘nitrate film’ printed along the edge and/or horizontal dashes between every fourth sprocket hole.

Safety film has vertical dashes every fourth sprocket hole or the letter S followed by a number. Nitrate negative may be printed on safety film so the film edge may show both ‘nitrate’ and ‘safety’ markings. If in doubt, test.

How to find out whether film has a nitrate base

One way of testing if a film is on nitrate base is to apply a small drop of film cement (amyl acetate or ethyl acetate) to the base side. If it is nitrate, the base will immediately become quite tacky. Safety film will not, though there might be a white deposit left.

The laboratory method is to put the piece of film into a tube of trichloroethylene. Nitrate film sinks, safety floats.

How to store nitrate film

The inevitable deterioration of nitrate film is accelerated by damp, heat and fluctuating conditions. It should be kept cool, at a constant 50°F (10°C) with a relative humidity of 40–50%. Temperatures over 80°F (27°C) and relative humidities exceeding 60% should be avoided.

The film gives off fumes which accelerate the decomposition process and also affects safety film, so nitrate should be stored separately, preferably in its own metal cupboard or another building.

It is essential to have adequate ventilation to allow the gases to escape and avoid the risk of explosion. Having nitrate film on your premises may invalidate insurance and be against local fire regulations; consult your local environmental health officer.

Showing and copying nitrate film

Only a few institutions are licensed to project nitrate film. YOU SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO PROJECT SUCH FILMS YOURSELF. The best way to view and preserve the images on the film is to copy it onto safety film. The following laboratories copy nitrate film:

Film & Photo Ltd 13 Colville Road, South Acton Industrial Estate, London. W3 8BL | 020 8992 0037 Fax: 020 8993 2409 | Email | Website

Soho Film Lab 8–14 Meard Street, London W1F 0EQ | 020 7468 8600 | Email | Website

Nitrate film should not be sent by post, taken by public transport or disposed of as refuse.

Further reading

Books

• Roger Smither (ed), This Film is Dangerous: A Celebration of Nitrate Film, FIAF (International Federation of Film Archives), Brussels, 2002

Booklets

• Film Preservation, FIAF (International Federation of Film Archives), Brussels,1985
• Hazards in the Handling and Storage of Nitrate and Safety Motion Picture Film, Eastman Kodak, New York, 1951
• The Dangers of Cellulose Nitrate Film, Health and Safety Executive, 2003

Articles

• ‘Some Hazardous Properties of Motion Picture Film’, A.H. Nuckholls and A.F. Marson, SMPTE Journal, December 1936
• ‘Spontaneous Ignition of Decomposing Cellulose Nitrate Film’, J.W. Cummings, A.C. Hutson and H. Siltin, SMPTE Journal, March 1950
• ‘Hazardous Properties of Nitrate Film: a note’, R. Howard Cricks, British Kinematography, January 1964
• ‘Preservation of Motion Picture Films’, David Cleveland, Journal of Audiovisual Media in Medicine, Vol 8, No 4, 1985

Websites

• Film Forever: comprehensive website devoted to film preservation

Further advice

• BFI National Archive, 21 Stephen Street, London W1T 1LN / 020 7255 1444
• The Film Archive Forum, c/o British Universities Film and Video Council, 77 Wells Street, London W1T 3QJ | 020 7393 1508
• Imperial War Museum Film and Video Archive, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ | 020 7416 5000