Thermal Characteristics of Motion Picture Film

IT IS well known that excessive heating has a detrimental effect on the useful life of motion picture film. This injurious effect results from physical and chemical changes in the material induced and accelerated by higher temperatures. Thus, if the film be subjected to relatively high temperatures, the decomposition reactions, which at normal temperature proceed at a very slow rate, are greatly accelerated and evaporation of the more volatile constituents proceeds at a much greater rate than at lower temperatures. The exposure of the film to abnormally high temperatures therefore results in excessive shrinkage and marked increase in the brittleness of the material accompanied by a decrease in its tensile strength. It is obvious that these changes are detrimental to the film and must shorten its useful life for projection purposes. If proper conditions for storing, transporting, and handling the negatives and positives are adopted, the only time at which the film is subjected to abnormal temperatures is during projection.

Print ISSN

0096-6460

Published

1923-10

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/jj00016