Process for the preparation of a storage stable low esterified nitrocellulose moistened with alcohol or water

In the preparation of a storage stable nitrocellulose comprising the steps of reacting cellulose with a nitrating agent to obtain a fibrous nitrocellulose having a nitrogen content of up to about 12.6%, moistening such nitrocellulose with at least one of alcohol and water and compressing said moistened nitrocellulose between two rollers to a content of alcohol plus water of at least about 25%, the improvement which comprises effecting said compression with a linear pressure of from 0.2 to 10 t/cm between the rollers acting on the fibrous nitrocellulose, the friction between the rollers being adjusted to a value resulting in a difference in the power consumption of the two rollers of from 5 to 100 Watt/kg of nitrocellulose.