Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The polarization colors of nitrocellulose (NC) fibers show an orderly progression from gray‐white at 11.0% nitrogen (N) through first‐order whites, yellows, and reds to second‐order blue at 12.6% N. At higher levels of nitration, the polarization colors revert back to first orders with fibers containing 13.1% N showing gray changing to intense white at 13.5% N. The length‐positive and length‐negative character of NC fibers also changes with the degree of nitration. Fibers nitrated to about 12.4% N are optically neutral and become increasingly positive with a decrease in the level of nitration and increasingly negative as the level of nitration increases. This optical property and the polarization colors of NC provide much information about the level and range of nitration of NC fibers.</jats:p>