My inquiry is based on the ability to turn nitroglycerin into a slightly less powerful explosive, in gelatin form, through the adding of gun cotton: what reaction causes this to occur?

The reason behind this question is in my want for a solid, semi-stable gelatin (once the substance is added) in which acetone would be a solute semi-saturated with powdered explosives. Could any substance (namely gun cotton) be added to this to solidify or semi-solidify it?

What are you asking? Are you asking why nitrocellulose dissolves, or about the power of gelignite compared to straight nitroglycerin?

Many things can be added to nitroglycerin to thicken it. UTFSE and read about blasting gelatins and nitroglycerin plastic explosives.

Sorry for not being clear, I'm not asking about what can be used to thicken nitroglycerin so much as that I'm asking if a comparable process could be carried out on an acetone-based mix.

I don't believe that a stable gelatin could be made with acetone. The acetone would just evaporate out leaving behind the solid "powdered" explosive and nothing else.

Nitrocellulose is commonly dissolved in acetone. It's called nitrocellulose lacquer.

What is a "comparable process " in this context? Are you talking about polymer chemistry? The question is as clear as mud. "Acetone-based" is another one; the term "based" may be a serious misnomer as the acetone would be a simple solvent contextually with blasting gelatin. The subjects of blasting gelatin and related energetic solids are the defacto starting points in any reading on the history of explosive materials. Their structure being the basis for FURTHER discussion: as most anyone who reads and studies energetics knows of their idiosyncrasies.

Hint: UTFSE - Pyrocellulose : celluloid polymer : nitrocellulose : "gelatin", gelling/thicking agent (contextual definition) : polymer chemistry