The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-23

A great part Of the usefulness of India Rubber
depends upon the process known as "Vulcanzing,"
whereby textures of which it forms part cx-
empted from the action OF heat and cold. This pro-
cess has hitherto been performed by the mixture of
sulphur and lead, or Of sulphur with the rubber,
and, owing to its importance, sharp controversy
has, within two three years, been carried on be-
tween different manufacturers in this city with re-
spect 70 the right the process which has been
patented here in two or three forms. A discovery
Of great importance just made in England will
now, however, put am end TO the whole dispute,
and render all existing patents in this country
worthless, by introducing entirely new process,
which is the invention Of MIR. Burke, is more sim
pie and cheap than the old one dispenses with the
use Of sulphur altogether, and avoids the unplea-
SAINT smell always caused by that substance.
Though patented In England, 1t has already been
used by some of our own manufacturers, and can
not now be monopolized in the United States. 1t
will therefore throw open the business to free COM
petition, and greatly increase the manufacture OF
India rubber, If not enhance tho price OF the raw
material
The discovery may be succinctly described as
follows. We condensc from the language Of the
inventor:
sMix Is parts of golden sulphuret Of anthony
with 100 parts of India rubber, and when thorough
ly smasticated' az known to manufacturers, the
articles are to be made up and then submitted TO
heat III boiler under pressure at a temperature
varying from 26Oo to 2s6p Fahrenheit"
A manufacturer Of this city has shown us speci-
made BY ang much s PosOn
tity of rubber named above. The product is ex-
cecdingly elastic, tough and beautiful in appear
ance, while il is perfectly free from the smell OF
sulphur. At the same time it has no appearance OF
bloom, which is point Of the first Importance.
The heating of compounds of rubber in a boiler
under pressure was first introduced from England
into the United States three years ago. Since
then the manufacture of rubber goods has more
than doubled in amount. This new discovery by
which antmony takes the place Of sulphur will cx-
tend still further this branch of American industry,
than which none has received more attention from
scientific men.
The same inventor describes new kind of cloth
in the following words:
% The second part Of my invention refers to the
manufacture of water proof cloths or garments
known single textures, and consists in removing
the shiny or polished appearance OF the surface
thereof which Is very generally objected to from it,
resemblance to common oiled or painted cloths In
order to effect this improvement, mix with caout
chouc, either prepared above not, from ten TO
fifteen per cent. of ground silk, cotton, wool,
CATER the manner of fock,) and dissolve i in a
suitable menstruum, or mix the flock with the
caoutchouc when dissolved. With this solution
coat the surface of the cloth, which has previously
been prepared with the waterproof composition in
the ordinary manner of such manufacture, and
thereby impart to the waterproof surface an APP
pearance greatly resembling woollen cloth. This
cloth may be afterward put through the heating
process and another cloth fabric cemented there
10 as a lining il required. am aware that hoc has
heretofore been united to cloth, paper, and other
fabrics, by means of India rubber solution, and
such like adhesive matter, by sitting the flock in
dry and powdered state on TO the fabric but the
by friction. as it has but slight hold upon the
body Of the fabric; but, according TO my improve
ment the flock is made integral part Of the fab
rio itself, and cannot therefore be removed"