Definition
A syrupy liquid made of nitrocellulose dissolved in ether and alcohol that dries into a tough, transparent film. In aircraft maintenance, it is used as a sealant, a temporary protective coating, and as a medium for applying dye penetrant indications or fixing small surface flaws during inspection and repair work.
Plain English
A clear, syrupy liquid that dries into a thin, tough film. Mechanics use it to seal small areas, protect surfaces, or hold things in place temporarily.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance material discussions, especially where older fabric, coatings, adhesives, or finishing materials are described.
Derivation
From the Greek 'kollodes,' meaning 'glue-like' or 'sticky.' The name fits its behavior: it goes on as a sticky liquid and dries into a clinging film.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots themselves rarely handle collodion, but recognizing the term helps when reading maintenance records or discussing repair procedures with a mechanic.
Intuition Check
Collodion is not just any glue. In this context, it is a specific flammable liquid that dries into a film.
Example Sentence 1
The technician applied a thin layer of collodion over the small surface flaw to seal it before further inspection.
Example Sentence 2
Collodion was applied to form a temporary protective film during the repair of the control surface skin.