51�Թ�

The warehouse is owned by the national film institute, Cinemateca, and houses South America’s largest collection of films, some made of cellulose nitrate, a highly flammable material.

Ms. Lagana and Dr. Madden immediately identified the plastic as cellulose nitrate, an early material widely used in photography and motion picture film.

The sequins on two dresses are plagued by “inherent vice”—a degradation of cellulose nitrate.

We are also working with materials like cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate, which are contained in archaic film material.

Thus the cellulose nitrates are the bases of our modern high explosives, as well as those now used for military purposes.